A Trial of Secrets

Misty sat up with a gasp, her heart racing. She looked around the dark bedchambers as she panted for breath. Her mind was foggy at first, but soon it was swimming with questions. What was that? She would've brushed it off as just a dream but…it felt like more than that. Like…a memory? Like the dreams she had about the day she was fillynapped. But…that didn't make any sense. That wasn't…that couldn't have been a memory. At least…not hers.

For one, she had no idea who that white alicorn was. The one Opaline kept calling Tia. Was that…was that her sister? But…Opaline didn't have any sisters…did she?

Misty thought back to the words Opaline told this Tia. About how Tia and another were the golden ponies, everypony's favorites. While Opaline was left behind. It sounded familiar. Like she heard Opaline say those words before…

Misty looked down at her flank to see her cutie mark glowing. So, it was more than just a dream. She looked at the two beds next to her to see them both empty. She looked around the dark rooms to see everypony still asleep, Izzy snoring loudly. That was when she heard faint voices coming from the curtained balcony. Misty got out of bed and began walking towards the balcony, planning on revealing herself when she heard her name.

She peeked around the entrance to the balcony to see Sunny and Zipp, looking over the railing to the city beyond the castle walls. She quickly moved her head back, leaning against the wall to hear them better without being noticed.

The two of them had paused in their chat, and for a moment, Misty thought they caught her when Zipp spoke.

"Hey Sunny…" Zipp paused before continuing. She spoke in a quiet whisper, as though not to wake up everypony in the room, but Misty could still hear every word. "What if…what if we can't find a third alicorn to back Misty? What do we do then?"

"We will," Sunny said firmly, but from the tone of her voice, it sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince Zipp.

"Yeah but…what if we don't…" Zipp repeated, quieter, with more fear.

"I…I don't know, Zipp. I'm not sure if there's anything we could do. Not without putting all of Equestria in danger."

Zipp was silent for a moment before speaking again, getting more and more upset with each word. "You seriously can't expect me to just leave her here! Sunny, she's my sister. I am not abandoning another sister to just…sit in a dungeon with no hope of ever escaping! I won't! Not again! I don't care if Equestria burns for it! I'm not making the same mistake I did with Pipp!"

Misty gasped, stumbling back. Tears filled her eyes, but she wasn't sure if it was because she was touched by Zipp's words or terrified by them. Zipp really wouldn't let Equestria burn just to…to save her…would she? That…that wasn't what Misty wanted. She didn't want to be the reason for Equestria's downfall. That's the whole reason she left Opaline to begin with. Because she didn't want to hurt anypony else.

Misty crept back up to the balcony door, the edges of the sun just peeking over the horizon. "Zipp…" Sunny started after a long moment of silence. "You…you don't really mean that…do you? About…about Equestria, I mean."

"I…I don't know," Zipp answered, but both Misty and Sunny caught that it wasn't a flat-out no.

Misty took a deep breath before finally revealing herself. Choosing any of them over Equestria wasn't an option. They all sacrificed too much to keep Equestria safe to let it suffer now.

"Don't," Misty said firmly.

Sunny and Zipp jumped, startled upon hearing Misty's voice. They turned around, and, sure enough, there was Misty, standing tall and firm, a determined and passionate look on her face. Zipp and Sunny looked at each other. They weren't sure of the last time they saw that look on Misty's face if they ever had before.

"Misty…what…what are–" Sunny started, but stopped when Misty didn't even spare Sunny a glance. She kept her gaze firmly on Zipp.

"If it comes down to it, Zipp, don't choose me over Equestria. I'm not worth it. None of us are."

"Misty…I…what…" Zipp started, at a loss for words.

"No…Zipp, you know that, deep down, having me shatter the Unity Crystals was the right call. You know choosing Royalty over Family was what had to be done, even if nopony else did at the time. I know you feel like you've made a mistake, but you didn't. Pipp wasn't there to tell you ahead of time what she wanted, even though we both already knew, deep down. But I am. And I'm telling you that if it comes down to it, choose Equestria over me. Don't choose Family over Royalty. Because…if you do…Zipp, everything we've gone through…everything we sacrificed…Pipp dying, reforming the changelings, defeating Opaline, defeating the Shadow Walkers…everything Princess Twilight and Flurry Heart and Luster Dawn all sacrificed to keep Equestria full of light and hope…it will all be for naught. None of it will matter. The sacrifices…they'll be for nothing. And Zipp…don't do that. Don't make it all worthless. Not for me. Not for any of us." Misty paused before continuing. "Promise me."

Zipp bit her lip. She hated the thought of yet again abandoning another sister, but she knew Misty was right. If she chose Misty over Equestria, it would make everypony's sacrifices to keep Equestria safe completely worthless. And she didn't have that right.

"Yeah. Fine. Sure." Zipp muttered dismissively. At Misty's expression, Zipp sighed. "Yeah. Alright. I promise. Hoof to heart."

Sunny stepped between them, shaking her head. "Whoa, guys, chill. We…we don't even know if it'll come to that. It probably won't." Sunny was silent for a moment before turning to Misty. "We didn't wake you up…did we?"

Misty shook her head. "No…" She paused, taking a deep breath, before continuing. "I…I had a dream. About Opaline."

"Oh, Misty. I didn't even think about everything being here would rehash…" Sunny started, but Misty shook her head.

"No. It…it wasn't a memory. I mean, it was but…it wasn't mine." Misty looked Zipp and Sunny in the eye. "It was Opaline's. Before she went evil."

Sunny and Zipp were silent, looking at Misty with wide eyes. Before she went evil? To be honest, they didn't even realize there was a such thing. Opaline had been evil for so long…it was hard to think of a time when she wasn't. It was difficult to imagine…but it made them wonder. Was there really a time when Opaline wasn't evil? And if so…what happened?

"Wait…before. You don't mean…how do you know all this?" Zipp asked, too confused and dumbfounded to speak properly.

"I…I don't know. I…I think I had a vision. It wasn't much but…Opaline most definitely wasn't evil. I know there was this alicorn. Opaline called her Tia "

Sunny froze. "Did you just say…Tia?" Misty nodded. "This alicorn wouldn't happen to have a white coat and a pink mane…would she?"

Misty blinked. "Uh…y-yeah. How…how did you know that?"

Sunny sighed. "Remember back in the Crystal Empire when we were forced to face our greatest fears by the Spirit of Harmony so we could defeat the Shadow Walkers?" Misty and Zipp nodded. "And…remember when you ponies found me at the edge of town, almost ready to leave?" Again, another nod. "Did you ponies happen to see the alicorn I was with?" Misty's eyes widened as she began to connect the dots. "She also went by the name Tia."

"Whoa whoa whoa." Zipp interrupted, waving both of her hooves. "Slow down." Zipp sighed, looking at Misty. "In all the years you lived with Opaline, did she ever tell you anything about her past?"

Misty gasped as she finally remembered where she heard the words Opaline told Tia about being special. Opaline's words rang through her head. How could she not see it? She only heard that story a million times over again. She practically memorized it.

'When I was growing up in Skyros, they were the "golden ponies". The favorites. Everypony loved them, but I saw through their act. They thought they were so great 'cause they had the whole sun and moon thing going. Please. I had something much better. I was an alicorn of fire. Of power, of strength! And because of that, I had to prove I was not to be underestimated. They'd learn I was not only the wrong pony to push around, but I would be so much more. I would live up to my elemental duty.'

Misty squeezed her eyes shut. Damn it. What were their names? The golden ponies? Sun and moon. Sun and moon. Moon. Luna! Luna and Celestia! Celestia! Celestia was Tia, Misty could feel it deep down. She paused. But…that would mean…if the ponies from the memory were sisters then…Celestia and Luna were Opaline's sisters. But…that didn't make sense. From the scene Opaline always played in the pool in her castle, it was as though Celestia and Luna wanted nothing to do with Opaline. But…the Tia in the memory didn't seem like that at all. It seemed like she genuinely loved and cared for Opaline.

But…Misty felt like she heard those two names before, though she couldn't put her hoof on it.

"Misty? Did you figure something out?" Zipp asked.

"Maybe…hey, do the names Celestia and Luna mean anything to you?" Misty asked.

The two of them thought hard. They sounded familiar but…

Sunny's eyes widened as she gasped. "Yeah! They were the first bearers of the Elements of Harmony. Flurry Heart told us, remember?"

Zipp smiled. "That's right. I remember now. Flurry mentioned Celestia had to banish her sister Luna to the moon because she turned into Nightmare Moon."

Misty's ears flattened as her eyes widened. "Oh…well…that complicates things a bit."

"What…how?" Sunny asked, confused.

"Well…umm…you see…in my vision…it seemed as though…as though Celestia and Opaline were sisters. They said something about 'our' father." Misty said, air quoting the word 'our' with her front two hooves. "And if that's true, so were Luna and Opaline."

"Are you saying…Opaline could've been the reason Luna turned evil?" Zipp asked, her eyes widening.

"I…I don't know. Maybe. We don't even know why Luna turned into Nightmare Moon in the first place. It could be totally unrelated. But…in order to understand what the hell happened…there's only two ponies in this day in age that would know anything about it and that we can trust with our lives."

"Flurry Heart and Luster Dawn!" Sunny exclaimed. Misty nodded. "But…how can we ask them? Short of going to the Crystal Empire I mean."

"Yeah, it's not like Flurry or Luster have phones," Zipp added.

"Leave that to me. Flurry Heart taught me a spell that I can use to send her letters, should I ever need to call her to Skyros or need her help. Besides…there's one more pony I want to ask them about." Misty paused but quickly clarified when she saw Sunny's and Zipp's confused looks. "A pony named Starswirl. He apparently knew Luna and Celestia, but I don't think he knew about Opaline. Though, that's all I know about him."

"Misty? Zipp? Where are you?" The three of them heard Pipp call out.

Zipp sighed. "Okay, Misty, you send that letter. I don't think we should tell the others just yet. Not until we get a reply from Flurry and Luster. This is all hypothetical and we don't even know if any of it is true. We should just…stick to the original plan. While I'm in the library, I'll see if I can find anything on Celestia, Luna, or Opaline."

"That's a good idea. I agree. Misty and I, along with Izzy and Pipp will go to the towns as planned to find an alicorn. And, hopefully, everything works out all right for once." Sunny added, feeling like she jinxed it just by saying that.

Misty nodded, not missing the fact that she didn't get the chance to tell them about the monstrous king that killed Opaline's, Celestia's, and Luna's father. Misty's heart filled with dread as a thought entered her head. What if that monster was still king?

Misty shook her head. That was…they had enough to worry about. But…something deeper was going on here. Something much deeper. Misty could feel it. But, she just didn't know how deep this really went. She just knew this was only the beginning.

Sunny hung her head. They've been at this for two hours and had no luck. Sunny couldn't even keep track of the number of alicorns they spoke with. Though, speaking was a bit of a stretch. In truth, only a hooful actually heard them out. As soon as Sunny said the words "help" and "mortal" in the same sentence, they turned their rich noses up at them, to put it mildly.

Ugh, she really didn't like nobility sometimes.

Not that Winter Moon's been all that helpful. All he's been doing was walking beside them, leading them to snobbish nobility and flirting with the four mares, despite one of them being married. He really was starting to get on her nerves, and that was saying something.

She just hoped Hitch and Zipp were having better luck.

"Hey, wait," Pipp called, causing Sunny to lift her head. "What's down that way?" She asked.

Sunny looked around to see they were standing at a fork in the road. One path, the one Winter was trying to lead them down, was more upper-class nobility, while the other looked like the more…common side of town. It was down this path Pipp was pointing.

Winter waved a dismissive hoof. "That's just where the common folk live. They won't be of any use to us."

Sunny, Izzy, and Misty all looked at each other. They were all "common folk" before they became the Guardians of Unity. They didn't know how to talk to rich nobles, but they did know regular run-of-the-mill ponies.

The four mares unanimously agreed and began walking down the "common folk" path, despite Winter's protests. As they walked down the street, everything looked so glum and sad. Alicorns were grumpy and mean towards each other. Foals didn't run and play in the streets but sat and moped. It reminded them so much of when they first visited Bridlewood, before they united pony kind.

"This place is so sad," Pipp said, her heart getting heavier.

They arrived at a square when Izzy was struck by an idea. A brilliant, awesome-tastic idea. She gasped, knowing she just had to do what she could to cheer this place up. To bring laughter wherever she went.

She turned to her friends. "Alright, ponies. I've got an idea that'll turn this place around. You with me?"

Sunny nodded. "Of course we are, Izzy."

"Plus," Pipp added with a shrug, "if we do this for them, maybe they'll help us in return."

"Okay, here's the plan. Sunny, I want you to build an awesome smoothie stand and start making those amazing smoothies of yours. They always brought smiles to the ponies of Maretime Bay, why not here? And take Winter with you." Izzy turned to Pipp. "Pipp, I want you to find a band to play lively music in the square to brighten things up." She turned to the last pony who didn't have a job. "Misty, you're with me."

"What are we gonna do?" Misty asked, a little nervous.

"We're the decorating committee. Ready?" All of them, except Prince Winter Moon, nodded. "Let's move out, ponies, and get these sparkles shining bright!"

They dispersed, and as they did, they began to sing their work song. Sunny, who always kept a portable blender in the Marestream, sent Winter to get some building supplies so they could build the smoothie stand together while she went to retrieve said blender and some extra fruit she kept stored away.

🎵Just a little touch-up.
Just a little paint.
And we'll be done in no time.🎵

"Hey, this is looking great," Izzy commented when she saw Misty's decorations.

🎵Cause they say many hooves,
And the work gets lighter.
And working with your friends,
Will make the whole day brighter.

Gonna work work work.
Got so much to do.
Well, I don't mind the work,
'Cause I get to work with you

Gonna work, work, work,
Make our dreams come true.
'Cause when we work together,
There's nothing we, nothing we can't do🎵

"We got–" Sunny started before they could move on with their song when she froze. As they sang, she retrieved the blender and fruit and was already heading back to the place where she and Winter agreed to meet up, but when she got there, she could feel herself growing frustrated.

Winter was sitting off to the side while not too far away, a group of alicorns were begrudgingly building the stand. This was the opposite of what Izzy had planned. This was supposed to be a gift to them alicorns brought by the five of them. Not a gift that the alicorns had to slave away for. Otherwise, it defeated the whole purpose.

"Winter…" Sunny started, a warning in her voice. "What's this?"

Winter looked up at her. "Oh, well, you ponies wanted a smoothie stand, here it is."

Sunny sighed. "Yeah, but we were supposed to do it ourselves. With our own four hooves."

"Why would we do that when we can have others do it for us?"

Sunny rolled her eyes. "Serves me right for trusting a rich prince. The only way to get what you want in life is through hard work." She sighed, turning away from Winter, and began moving towards the workers.

"Hard work?" Winter asked with a small chuckle, standing up and hurrying after Sunny. "Why…why would a princess need to work hard?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm not a princess. I sell smoothies in Maretime Bay." Sunny responded as though it were no big deal.

Winter sighed, shaking his head. "Of course you're not. I should've known you were the exception."

Sunny stopped, turning to face Winter, clearly offended. "Exception? Wait…should've known? What is that supposed to mean?"

Winter shrugged. "Nothing. Just that out of every alicorn in your land, you're the only one who isn't a princess."

"Out of what? Two?" Sunny asked, thinking of Flurry and Twilight.

"Try six. Counting Opaline." Winter corrected. "Guess the lucky seventh is the exception."

Sunny rolled her eyes and continued to the workers, dismissing them and promising they'll be compensated. She then picked up a hammer and a piece of wood with her magic, setting it in place before picking up some nails to hammer in.

Winter sighed heavily. "Fine, if you insist." Suddenly, a lyre appeared in his magic, and, before playing, he said, "Music to work by."

As he played, Sunny accidentally hammered the nail wrong, and it bent. She sighed heavily. "I could use a little help."

Winter paused in his music, looking up at Sunny. "Oh! I will play a little louder." Winter began to play his lyre louder and more upbeat.

Sunny sighed. "How about a little less picking and a little more–" Sunny stopped when she realized there was no point. She sighed heavily before returning to her work. The colt annoyed her more than Sprout, and that was saying something.

"Hiya Sunny–" Izzy started, but stopped when she caught sight of Sunny's smoothie stand. "Whoa, nice work, Sunny."

It was impressive, and while it wasn't the quality of her cart back at home, seeing as she only had two hours so far and limited supplies, it was pretty good. It looked like a good ol' fashioned selling cart, with three wheels and a cloth roof overhead in case it rained. Sunny's portable blender was on top of it, with a shelf below it holding the cups, straws, lids, napkins, and other such supplies. Sunny had also taken the portable fridge out of the Marestream, which was solar-powered if there wasn't an outlet nearby, to use to hold her fruits and veggies. Sunny was currently painting pictures of fruits and smoothing cups around her cart, and she was about halfway done. It really was something.

"Wow, Sunny," Pipp said as she saw the cart, approaching Sunny next to Izzy. "I didn't know you could build something like that."

Sunny shrugged. "Yeah. My dad taught me a few things. He used to build things in his free time, like that lantern he made for me that Izzy restored. Plus, when I first got my smoothie cart back in Maretime Bay, it was pretty broken down. Hitch and I restored it together and he taught me everything else I know."

"Hey, where's Prince Winter? I thought he was supposed to be helping." Misty asked.

"I am helping," A voice called.

The three mares turned to see Winter sitting on a bench close by, playing a lyre with his magic.

"He thinks playing music and watching others work is helping," Sunny muttered bitterly. "Even though he promised that if we needed anything, all we had to do was holler!" Sunny said bitterly, yelling the last part at Winter.

"Hey, you said you needed help, I helped. Besides, I made that promise to a beautiful princess, not a cranky waitress." Winter said dismissively.

"I am not a waitress! And just because I'm an alicorn in Equestria, doesn't mean I'm a princess!"

Winter scoffed. "Clearly."

Sunny clenched her jaw, glaring at Winter Moon. Izzy was suddenly in front of her, looking her in the eye. "Sunny. Sunny, look at me. Clear skies. Clear skies. Clear…skies."

Sunny took a deep breath, repeating "clear skies" in her head over and over. She sighed before opening her eyes. What was wrong with her? She wasn't usually this quick to get frustrated. Something about Winter Moon and his attitude just set her teeth on edge.

"Better?" Izzy asked when she felt Sunny's body relax.

Sunny nodded, a small smile on her face. "Loads. Thanks Iz."

"No problemo. Alright, ready to get this thing started?"

Not one alicorn came to get a smoothie. As the band Pipp put together played in the background, not one alicorn danced to the music. They didn't even seem to notice the decorations Misty and Izzy worked so hard to put up. It was just as sad and depressing as it was when they first got here.

"Now what?" Sunny asked.

Winter was silent for a moment before he answered, "Watch and learn, Princess," before teleporting away.

"Ugh! I'm not a princess!" Sunny called, but she knew he couldn't hear her.

Suddenly, Prince Winter Moon was in the middle of the square, high in the sky. The alicorns gasped as they saw their prince in the sky. His horn lit up and a small silver white glowing ball appeared and entered his throat. When he spoke, it was like he was speaking into a microphone.

"Come one, come all! Free and delicious smoothies are being served just for you! Music is being played in the square for you to dance to! Browse the wares of your fellow peers! Enjoy yourselves!"

Misty and Sunny, who were the only ones at the smoothie stand, glanced at each other as Winter Moon came flying back. They waited for a moment, but nothing happened.

"Cute…" Sunny started, crossing her hooves. "But it's not gonna…" She continued, only for Winter to hold up a hoof. He was leaning against the counter, his back to the crowd.

Suddenly, he pointed his hoof behind him with a smug smile, and Sunny and Misty saw an alicorn appear. They were so focused on Winter, they didn't even see him coming. "I'd like one smoothie, please. The free smoothies are still available right?"

Sunny suddenly brightened. "Yeah. Yeah, of course. What kind would you like…?" Sunny said, quickly grabbing fruits as the alicorn said them.

The crowd grew bigger as more and more alicorns gathered around, wanting a smoothie. The music grew more lively as ponies danced in the square. It was like the entire square transformed into something beautiful. It was like night and day, Misty thought with a small smile.

As soon as she thought that, Misty heard foal's laughter echo around her, just like in the castle. She glanced around but was about to brush it off as alicorn fillies playing when she heard something else.

"Give that back, Tia!"

"Gotta catch me first, Linnie!"

Misty froze as she heard the voices echo around her. There was that name again. Tia. Misty looked in the direction she heard the voices, her ears piqued. She heard more laughter. She hesitated, staring in the direction she heard the voices and laughter from, down an alleyway across the street. She bit her lower lip, internally debating what to do when she made her decision.

"Hey, Sunny?" She called, not taking her eyes off the alleyway.

"Yeah, Misty?" Sunny answered, keeping up with all the smoothie orders, completely oblivious to Misty's behavior and the voices she was hearing

"I gotta go somewhere real quick. I'll be right back." Misty answered before running off.

"O-okay, but, wait! Take Winter with you. It's not like he's any real help he–" Sunny stopped when she turned around and saw Misty was gone. She looked at Winter, who was sitting beside the smoothie stand. "Where did she go?"

Winter shrugged. "She left right after she said she'd be back."

"And you didn't think to stop her?!" Sunny asked, glaring at Winter, feeling her frustration grow again.

Again, Winter shrugged. "You said I wasn't very helpful. So, I decided to show you what not helpful actually looked like."

Sunny dropped her head on the counter, groaning.

Misty ran down the alleyway, trying to keep up with the flash of magenta and white she kept seeing and the voices that seemed to taunt her with each step she took. The alleyway deposited her into another square with another throng of ponies.

She panted heavily, glancing around, not seeing anything resembling the ghostly colors she saw earlier. She was about to turn around and go back when her ear twitched. There it was again.

"Tia! That's mine!"

"Catch me if you can!"

Misty saw a flash of white, and, with no hesitation, she sprinted off in that direction. She pushed through the crowd of alicorns, the laughter and arguing ringing in her head. She was so focused on the two fillies, that Misty didn't even notice her cutie mark glowing.

She tried to keep them in sight, but they stayed just on the edge of it. However, whenever she got held up or bumped into an alicorn, they'd stayed just at the edges of her vision, like they wanted Misty to follow them, even if they didn't know it.

Suddenly, Misty skidded to a stop when she saw the two fillies, much more clearly now, standing in front of a moss-covered stone staircase. However, instead of just two, there were now three. Two of them she recognized. The white alicorn from her dream and Opaline, though much much younger versions. The third alicorn was blue with a cerulean mane. The three figures were see-through, as if they were ghosts, but it felt like they were more than that. Like…this really happened.

The scene was paused, as though waiting for Misty to catch up, and resumed when she could see it clearly.

"Ha! Got you, Tia!" The blue alicorn, who looked to be the youngest, said as she jumped in front of Tia.

"Luna! You ruined it!" Tia accused, pouting.

"Ah, do not be a sore loser, Tia." the young Opaline said, as she joined Luna's side.

Suddenly, an unrecognizable alicorn jumped from behind the two fillies, startling all three of them. The unrecognizable one looked to be a few years older than all three of them, around thirteen or fourteen, and he had a mean smirk on his face.

"Losers!" He yelled as he jumped from behind.

All three fillies let out a startled scream, but only one had a magical reaction. As Opaline screamed, clearly startled, fire burst out of her. Tia was able to react in time and so was the bully, and they jumped out of the way, but Luna wasn't fast enough. She got burned by Opaline's fire.

The poor scream little Luna let out, it broke Misty's heart. And the look on Opaline's face, it was a look Misty had never seen before on Opaline. Fear. Regret. Guilt.

"Oh gods. Luna! Luna, I'm so sorry, I–" Opaline hurried towards Luna, but Luna flinched and shied away, making Opaline stop in her tracks.

The bully looked at Opaline with disgust and then at the burnt Luna. "Freak!" He called before flying away.

Tia stared at the crying and hurt blue filly alicorn, before glancing at Opaline. "I'm gonna go get help. You stay here with Luna." Then Tia ran off, sprinting right through Misty, making her gasp.

Suddenly, the whole scene disappeared and Misty was alone. She looked around, wanting to figure out why the two fillies led her here when she looked at the ground and saw a small pony doll that was slowly burning from a magenta-colored fire. Misty picked it up with her magic, surprised to see it float up in her coral aura. She watched as it slowly burned into nothing but ashes, which blew away in the wind, and nothing remained of the three alicorn fillies.

Misty sighed heavily, looking around before gasping. There was a stone archway that was carved to look like flames. Unlit torches lined the staircase. But…everything looked black and…burnt. What…what was this place?

"Misty!" A voice called behind her. A voice she knew. Izzy.

Misty turned around to see Sunny, Pipp, Izzy, and Prince Winter running towards her, a look of fear on the three mares' faces.

As soon as Sunny got to Misty, she enveloped her in a tight hug, not even giving Misty a chance to process anything. They stayed like that for a long moment, Sunny panting in relief. When they separated, Izzy and Pipp took their turns to hug Misty, though these were much quicker and less intrusive.

"Misty, what in Equestria would possess you to run off like that?" Sunny asked, her voice full of worry.

"Hear you out?! You took magic away! FOREVER! Why?! What would even..." Sunny stuttered a bit, completely at a loss for words. "Possess you to do something like this?! Now we can NEVER get magic back! Those crystals were...were everything! And you took them away!"

Misty gasped as those words rang through her head. She stumbled back, squeezing her eyes shut, and shaking her head. Where the hell did that memory come from? She hadn't thought of that moment in a year. She moved on from that. They all had. They forgave her and Zipp. She and Zipp forgave them. It was all in the past, and it was supposed to stay like that.

So why was it bubbling to the surface now?

"Misty…?" Izzy asked, concern written all over her face. "Are you okay?"

"You say that, but don't you see? Somepony did get hurt. Pipp. And, you hurt all of us. Maybe not physically, but you broke our hearts, Misty. Both you and Zipp."

Misty blinked. Where the hell was this coming from? She hadn't thought about that in forever. She glanced at her friends and Winter Moon, stopping when she saw the look on the prince's face. He was concentrating hard on Misty, like she was all he could focus on. His stare, it was making Misty uncomfortable while, at the same time, drawing her in.

"Don't bother apologizing again. We don't want to hear it."

Sunny noticed Misty's behavior and followed her gaze to Winter. "Winter, is something wrong?"

Winter blinked, but he looked at Sunny with his most charming smile. "Everything's fantastic, Princess. But, it's nice to know you worry about me, love."

Sunny scowled. "It wasn't you I was worried about. And I'm not a princess. How many times do I have to tell you?"

Misty shook her head. It was relieving to hear Sunny's voice and not hear something hurtful she said in the past. But why was she hearing that at all? And why did it suddenly stop? And did it have anything to do with Winter concentrating on her? Misty decided it was better to just move on for now. Right now, her plate was full enough as it was.

She turned around and looked back up at the arch and the staircase. Not a single alicorn came from it nor entered. The land and town around them were deserted and empty.

The other three seemed to notice where they were and gasped. "What is this place?" Pipp asked.

Winter was silent for a moment, glancing at Sunny, who was staring up at the arch, before answering. "The Fire Lands. It's where the fire alicorns live. Or, they used to."

"What…what happened?" Sunny asked, walking up to the arch, and putting a hoof on one of its blackened spots.

Winter shrugged, looking away from the arch and out into the sky around the cliffs. "Opaline happened."