//------------------------------// // So Long, Sandersons?/A Dennison and Pony Kidnapping // Story: G5 Adventures in Hocus Pocus // by ponydog127 //------------------------------// Allison quickly led the group to the high school to put their plan into motion, and like Allison expected, Mary led her sisters there by using her sense of smell, and they approached it wide eyed with wonder. “What is this place?” Sarah asked as Mary took another sniff. “It reeks of children.” “It is a prison for children,” Winifred told her sisters, and they entered and slithered through the halls through the open door. Meanwhile, in the principal's office, Max howled into the microphone while Misty and Izzy used a spell to make Max's voice sound deeper to avoid their plan being ruined. “Welcome to High School Hell. I’m your host Boris Karloff Jr,” Max said into the intercom before laughing. “It’s time to meet our 3 contestants. Sarah, Mary, and Winifred Sanderson. Read any good spell books lately?” The sisters immediately halted when they saw Binx hissing at them in the middle of the hallway, and Sunny waved mischievously at them. “Sisters!” Winifred snarled as the sisters linked arms. “Get 'em!” “Hop on, Binx!” Sunny said, and the black cat hopped on her back before Sunny skated down the hall with the sisters in pursuit. “Hello,” said a female voice, stopping the sisters in their tracks. “Welcome to the library. Bonjour. Bienvenue à la bibliothèque.” The sisters quickly forgot about Binx and Sunny and headed in the direction of the voice. They paused just outside of one of the big ovens that the art students used to harden their molds... unaware that the girls, pegasus sisters, Hitch and Hesperia were hiding in there, waiting to spring their trap. Winifred gave the signal and the sisters all rushed into the oven. They stopped and look around and it is revealed to us that the woman’s voice is coming from a boom box. The sisters all walked over to it, not realizing that the voice isn’t connected to a real person. “Hello?” “Yes?” “NOW!!” Hesperia shouted, and she, Dani, Allison, Zipp and Pipp slammed the oven door shut, causing the sisters to scream. That's when Hitch kicked a button that turned the oven on, letting the inside roast the witches in the flames. When the group escaped outside, they rejoiced to see the remains of the witches flying out of the chimney, and Max whooped louder than most. “So long, Winifred Sanderson!” They screamed... they cheered... they hugged. Maybe the ponies' most cherishing victory yet. Everyone ran down the sidewalk, and Max, Zipp and Hesperia stopped and talked to Binx, who rested up in a tree. “We did it. Binx,” Zipp sighed. “We stopped them, and the evil they did so long ago is gone with them.” “I’ve wanted to do that for 300 years,” Binx said, although a bit sadly. “Since they took Emily.” Hesperia and Zipp felt their hearts sink, and Max looked up at the cat with a frown. “You really miss her, don’t you? Man, you can’t keep blaming yourself for that. That happened so long ago.” “Max... they cursed him to live forever with his guilt,” Zipp said. “But... I do agree. Your sister knows that you tried your best, Binx. She would be happy that the witches are gone, no matter how long ago it was.” “Take good care of your sisters, Zipp and Max,” Binx told them, watching as their friends played near the fountain. “You'll never know how precious they are... until you lose them.” “And... Zipp?” Hesperia added. “That Opaline character? Kick her butt an extra time for me... okay?” As soon as Binx climbed down from the tree, he and Hesperia began to run off, until Max stopped them. “Hesp, Binx! Where do you think you're going?” he asked with a smirk. “You’re Dennisons now, you guys. Two of us.” “Wait... you'll take us in?” Hesperia asked. “I have to agree,” Zipp smirked. “You belong with the Dennisons... no matter what happens.” “Come on, guys! Let's go home!” Dani called, and Binx sighed. “Home...” He liked the sound of that... and honestly, so did Max. They ran off toward home... unaware that the sisters were far from dead, ready to exact their next plan. XXXXXXXXX A little while later, after the group got back to the Dennison house, the parents hadn't got home yet, so Max invited Allison up to his room as Dani gave Binx a bowl of milk. “You’re my kitty now. You’ll have milk and tuna fish every day, and you’ll only hunt mice for fun.” “You’re gonna turn me into one of those fat, useless, contented house cats,” Binx deadpanned, and Misty giggled at that. “You betcha.” As Max and Allison snuggled together, and the ponies laid together, Hesperia got on the bed with Binx and Dani, and Dani rubbed the cat lovingly. “You know Binx, I’ll always take care of you. And my children will take care of you too. And their children after that, and theirs’ after that. Forever and ever, and ever…” But after a while, everyone managed to doze off, not having a care in the world... ...yet. XXXXXXXXX Meanwhile, the sisters returned to their cottage, where Winifred tried to brew the potion without her book, while her sisters began to chant. “Remember, remember, remember, Winnie, remember. Remember, Winnie, remember.” “Now I remember! I was here, the book was there, you, Mary, you were here. Sarah, you were in the back, dancing idiotically,” Winifred moved her sisters in the right directions. “And the book said, I remember it like it was yesterday… oil of boil, and a dead man’s nose.” “Dead man's toes!” Sarah's shouted, and Mary quickly hushed her. “Shhh!! She’s trying to concentrate!” Winifred then contemplated a few more possibilities: tongues, gums, chungs... whatever those were. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remember. She needed her book, otherwise their lives would be lost. She sobbed and went over to the open window. “Booooooooooook! Come home… or make thyself known!!” XXXXXXXXX As the group continued to sleep, the book opened its eye at Winifred’s call, but closed it as Allison and Max began to wake. “Hi.” “Hi.” Sunny and Hitch soon woke up after them, the former yawning and rubbing her eyes. “Man... it felt good to not worry about the witches being on our tail.” “It sure did. And now I know that whatever comes our way,” Hitch said, “we can face them...even Opaline.” As soon as the male pony got done saying that, Allison saw the time on Max's alarm clock. “Oh my God. It’s 5:00! My parents are gonna kill me!” she said as she rushed to put on her shoes. “I should go.” “I wish you could stay,” Max admitted. “Yeah,” Hitch nodded. “You really helped us out tonight, in more ways than one.” That's when Sunny's eyes sadly fell on Binx, her ears flattening. “Poor Binx... if only my alicorn powers could reverse the curse they put on him.” That's when Allison looked at the book and got an idea. “The book? The witches used it to put the spell on him, maybe there’s a way in here to take it off.” “I don’t know, Binx told us not to open it,” Max said unsuredly. “Yeah,” Hitch nodded. “Who knows what it might do?” “Well the witches are dead, what harm could it do?” That seemed to be a very good point... so, holding hands and hooves, they opened the book... unaware of the beacon of light invisible to their eyes, stretching into the sky. XXXXXXXXX Winifred continued to weep pitifully on the bed, while Mary was unsure of how to comfort her elder sister. “Do you wanna hit me, would that help?” “This is the end...” Winifred groaned, and Mary repeated what she said a one time. “I feel it. We are doomed. I feel the icy breath of death upon my neck. Mary?” “Huh?” “Take me to the window. I wish to say good-bye.” Mary did as her sister asked, and as they made their way to the window, the eldest sister saying goodbye to life and all that, Winifred caught sight of the beacon of light from the book, and laughed joyously. “Observe… they opened it!! Just when our time was running out! Come, we fly!” And so, donning a broom, a mop and a vacuum cleaner, the sisters flew in the direction of the beacon. XXXXXXXXX Max, Allison and Hitch and Sunny continued to look through the book, unaware that the sisters were coming, and Sunny spotted something that could be useful in a future fight with Opaline. “Look at this, you guys. Only a circle of salt can protect thy victims from thy power.” “Hmmm...” Hitch pondered about that. “Could be useful against tall, purple and murderous, if you know what I mean.” Suddenly, Binx leapt on top of the book, frightening them while he looked incredibly cross. “What do you think you are doing?! Do you want to bring death to us all?!” “We just wanted to help you,” Sunny stammered. “Well don't!” Binx snarled. “Nothing good can come from this book. Got it?!” The two ponies nodded in fear, and Binx sighed sadly. “I'm sorry... I already lost my sister and family to those witches. I'd hate to see you all get hurt as well.” “We understand, Binx. We won't mess with it again,” Hitch said. “But we better go get that salt, just in case. Wake Izzy and Misty up and have them meet us downstairs. The more backup we have, the better off I think we may be.” Binx did just that, leaving him and Hesperia to watch over the sleeping pegasus sisters and Dani. But as they headed downstairs, a sliding sound went over the window screen, waking Zipp and Hesperia. “Huh...?” Zipp looked around. “What in the...?” The two turned around, and their eyes went wide. It couldn't be... but it was. XXXXXXXXX “Why did we have to get up for salt again?” Izzy yawned before she gasped. “Are we making a salt mural?!” “Not exactly. We read that salt can protect people from witches,” Sunny spoke. “Maybe we can use it in case someone gets anymore witchly ideas.” “Good thinking,” Misty shuddered. “I'd hate to have anymore unwanted guests in Salem, tonight of all nights.” “Mom? Dad?” Max called out for his parents, but still no answer. “They’re still not home. That’s weird. They must be having a great time.” “I don't know, something's not right,” Allison said worriedly. “I’d feel a lot safer walking home if we had some salt.” Max reached up into the pantry and pulled down the salt, and Allison looked at the container. “Well?” Hitch said. “What does it say?” “Oh, it says to form a circle of salt to protect from zombies, witches, and old boyfriends.” Max gave her a seductive smirk. “What about new boyfriends?” “Oh, eww!!” Misty gagged, but this went unheard. “Get a room, you two!” But as they moved to kiss, a noise was heard from upstairs, and the group immediately feared the worst. “Dani!!” They rushed upstairs, but found Dani asleep under the covers, the griffin and pegasus sisters gone and the book as well. “Guys, the book is gone!” Allison cried. “And Hesperia, Pipp and Zipp! I'm telling you, something's weird.” “Maybe the girls went out for a late night flight,” Hitch said as he moved closer to the covers. “At least Dani is safe under-- AGH!!!” When he pulled back the covers, Dani was not under there, but Sarah was, holding Pipp hostage! “Trick or treat!” The group screamed at that, not expecting the youngest Sanderson to be alive. Suddenly, Mary and Winifred popped out of the closet, holding Zipp, Dani and Hesperia in their grasp. “Looking for this?” Winifred held the book, which opened its eye, causing Allison and Misty to scream. Winifred quickly the book and a ball of energy hit Max in the back and he went down, and Izzy and Hitch were also struck. Hesperia kicked Mary, causing her to release the griffin, but she didn't release her hold on Zipp. As for Allison and the others, Allison used the salt as a protective shield, and Winifred looked impressed with the action. “What a clever little white witch. But it will not save thy friends. No. Come sisters, the candles magic is almost spent, a dawn approaches.” “Let us go, you creeps! We're princesses,” screeched Pipp, “and our mom is gonna have you for this!” But despite the warnings, the sisters burst from Max’s room, and Allison and the others were knocked back by the power. “GUYS!!” Sunny screamed. “NO!!!” “What... what happened?” Hitch groaned, and Misty sighed, a feeling of fear in her stomach. “Winifred and the sisters... they have Dani and the others.” XXXXXXXXX “Use thy voice sister Sarah!” Winifred shouted as they flew with her captives. “Fill the sky! Bring the little brats to die!” Sarah parted from her sisters, and with Pipp plugging her ears with her wings, Sarah began to sing in a haunting voice. Come, little children, I'll take thee away Into a land of enchantment Come, little children, the time's come to play Here in my garden of magic And just like that, the kids of Salem mindlessly began to walk toward the cottage. And nothing the group could do could stop them. As they yelled for the kids to stop, Allison finally registered something the witches said. “Winifred said 'The candle’s magic will soon be spent, a dawn approaches',” she said. “The black flame candle only brought them back for this one Halloween night. And unless they can steal the lives of children, when the sun comes up, they’re dust.” “But... the sun won't be coming up for another couple of hours!” Hitch said. “Yeah, how can we make the sun come up? They’ve got Dani, Pipp and Zipp, not to mention Binx,” Max sighed. “We need a miracle.” Sunny looked down at her cutie mark, then her hooves before a smile graced her face. “I have an idea that should... shed some light on this problem. Trust me.”