Three Days Later...

Winter sat on the dirt floor of the cave, his back against the wall next to the bed the unconscious Sunny was sleeping on. He stared at her sleeping face, holding back tears once again. How could he be so foolish? How could he let his father hurt her so badly? He'd never forgive himself for the state he put her in. For the betrayal he made. For the way he hurt her and her friends.

Sunny had yet to wake up, and he feared that she never would. But she was alive, and as long as she was alive, there was still hope. Right? Gods, he just wished she'd wake up already.

Suddenly, Winter heard hoofsteps, snapping him out of his self-loathing. He snapped his head up, his eyes wide in panic. He saw two shadowed figures stepping in and in a panic, he quickly grabbed Sunny and hid behind a rock, leaning down. The hoofsteps grew closer and closer when Winter heard a voice he recognized.

"Sunny?!" Was that...Izzy? Winter peeked from behind the rock he was hiding behind. There, he saw Izzy and an exhausted-looking Misty leaning against her friend. "Are you sure she's here?"

Misty nodded wearily. "Yeah. According to the location spell."

"I still think you should've let me cast the spell. You don't look so–"

Suddenly, a coral blast hit the rock Winter and Sunny were hiding behind, breaking the top of the rock into a million little pieces. Winter ducked, shielding Sunny's body with his own.

After a moment of nothing happening, Winter cautiously poked his head out from behind the rock, and what he saw sent shivers down his spine. Misty was standing on her own, though she looked weak. She was panting heavily and glaring daggers at him, her horn charged and Izzy standing fearfully behind her.

However, as soon as she saw him, she de-charged her horn and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she looked confused and nervous. Izzy, however, had a huge smile on her face. She bounced up to him, hugging him tightly.

"Winter! Thank hoofness you're okay!" She exclaimed, hugging him, making him as confused as ever. Did they not know what he did?

"What…what's going on?" He asked. Then another thought came to mind. "How…how are you here?"

"Oh. Uh…" Izzy looked away, tears welling up in her eyes.

Misty spoke, her hooves trembling and slowly bending. Izzy caught on, and stood next to her, allowing Misty to lean against her. "Zipp heard guards ambushing us when we were in Opaline's room. Pipp and Hitch told Izzy to teleport herself and me out of there while Pipp, Zipp, and Hitch held them back. Izzy couldn't teleport all of us and I was trapped in my own mind thanks to Twilight. The bastard."

"Misty!" Izzy admonished. "You know she didn't have a choice!"

"I know, I know! It's just that…how could I have been so stupid! I should have been there! I should've known. Instead, I let her lead me into a trap and I blindly followed her like…like a lamb to the damn slaughter."

Winter looked away, guilt welling up in him. All these innocent ponies were blaming themselves when, in reality, it was his fault.

Misty continued her story. "She teleported us back to our room and was packing a quick back of essentials when I finally got free of my own mind. But, I was weak. Escaping my own mind took a lot of power and being in there for so long drained a lot of my energy. So, I couldn't be of much use in saving the rest of our friends. So, we ran. Izzy teleported the Pippsqueaks and herself to a friend's boutique while I teleported myself there. We hid there for a bit before hoping to find Sunny. I cast a locator spell to find her but...it doesn't seem to have worked."

Winter looked away, squeezing his eyes shut. "It did. She's here. But...I don't understand." Winter looked at Izzy and Misty. "How are you not mad at me?"

"Misty told me...everything she knew. I can't say I was happy to hear what she said, but seeing you here now with Sunny, I know you would never do anything to hurt her." Izzy said with a small and reassuring smile.

"Still though, we would like to know--" Misty started, only to be interrupted by a gasp from Izzy.

Her eyes had caught sight of the ground beside the rock Winter was hiding behind and she had gasped at what she saw peeking from behind it. It was Sunny's head, her eyes closed. She ran to Sunny, her mind panicking. She stared at her chest to see it barely moving. Izzy breathed a sigh of relief. She was alive.

"What's wrong with Sunny?" Izzy asked, her voice shaking.

"My father used a very dangerous spell on her to get to her magic. I was able to stop him before he used another spell to steal Sunny's soul but...I'm scared I was too late..." Winter's voice broke as he squeezed his eyes shut again.

As Winter was explaining, Misty walked up to Sunny, inspecting her closely. "Tirek's spell." She muttered.

"Tirek's what?" Izzy asked, looking at both Misty and Winter.

"A spell Tirek uses to drain a pony of their magic. A dangerous spell, one that's very difficult for a pony to cast. The only ones known to cast it are alicorns."

Izzy gasped. "Ooh! I know this old Bridlewood tea that's been known to restore unicorn energy and strength for centuries." Izzy's face fell. "But…I'm not sure any of the ingredients are here."

"You needn't worry about that. Just…tell me what they look like in great detail and I can manifest them with my magic." Winter suggested, willing to do anything to help Sunny.

"Uh, Izzy? Misty? Are you still alive in there? Is it okay to come in now?" A voice asked, making Misty and Izzy's eyes widen.

"Oops. Forgot about them." Misty turned to the entrance of the cave. "Yeah, girls. Come on in. We'll be staying here for a bit."

With that, three fillies walked in, one of them with a baby dragon on their back. When they caught sight of Winter, they gasped, but otherwise remained silent.

Izzy and Winter got to work while Misty tried to make Sunny as comfortable as possible on the mattress Winter manifested for her when he first got here three days ago and the three Pippsqueaks watched Sparky. Izzy began brewing the tea as Winter made the ingredients with his magic, both of them making another batch for Misty.

Soon the tea was finished and ready for Sunny to drink. Izzy picked up the cup with her magic, and, while Winter held her head back, Izzy poured the drink down Sunny's throat with her magic. They waited a little bit, watching her closely when her breathing got a little stronger. All three ponies breathed a sigh of relief, thankful it worked.

"We'll give her this tea three times a day. Even after she wakes up. At least until her strength is fully restored, even if it's without her magic." Izzy suggested, sitting down next to the bed.

Winter began pacing the length of the cave, and when the Pippsqueaks watched curiously, Misty gave them a look that had them quickly starting their own conversations with each other. They all made a deal before they left that if the Pippsqueaks and Sparky were to come, they had to do everything Misty and Izzy told them to do without argument.

Misty turned back to Winter, and both she and Izzy watched as he paced back and forth while he vented his frustrations and anger toward himself. "This is…all my fault."

"Winter…" Izzy started but was interrupted.

"No! It's all on me. I'm the one who went behind her back. I'm the one who manipulated her memories. I'm the one–"

"Wait, manipulate memories? You can do that?" Misty asked, confused.

"Yes. Each type of alicorn can influence the mind in different ways. Fire alicorns can lure and haze the mind, almost having a hypnotizing effect. Water alicorns can influence the tide of emotions, earth alicorns can form attachments where there weren't some and influence ones still there, while air alicorns can make memories come and go like the breeze. Make ponies think about or not think about any given memory they may have. The practice of influencing one's mind was banned by the king before my uncle, and, while my father hasn't unbanned it…he still encouraged me and my cousin to practice it."

Misty gasped. "So that's why I started thinking of memories I didn't want to think about. That was you." That was when Misty realized what she said and she instantly felt guilty. He was already beating himself up over it enough. She didn't need to add fuel to the fire, so to speak.

"Ugh! What's wrong with me? I'm so sorry!" Winter exclaimed, making it clear how guilty he felt. He sighed, looking at Sunny's unconscious body. "It's my fault Sunny is hurt. And I have no idea if she'll ever recover. And I will never forgive myself for it. What I wouldn't give to see her laugh and smile. To see her beautiful eyes again. To taste one of her amazing smoothies. Her contagious joy. And instead, I blew it! Because I couldn't stand up to my own damn father!" Winter's expression grew determined. "I have to fix this. I have to stop him. Because…if I don't…I don't know what I'll do."

"Stop it," Misty said firmly, standing up and putting her own cup of tea down. She was already looking a little stronger.

"W-what?" Winter asked, thoroughly confused.

"I said stop it. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. It isn't going to help us now." Misty walked up to Winter, not quite glaring, but her expression was hard, determined.

"B-but…it's my fault…" Winter countered.

"Yes. Okay, you made some mistakes. And yes, what you did was wrong. But in the end, you did what was right. And let me tell you, what your father did, wasn't your fault. Yes, you may have helped him, but ultimately, he's his own pony who knows right from wrong. It was his choice to go all evil, and it was his choice to hurt Sunny and doom the whole world. But sitting here, blaming yourself isn't gonna change a thing. If anything, it'll make things worse. We can stop Skotos, but only if we all work together."

"Are you sure about that though? Look at us." Izzy gestured to the lot of them, who all looked tired and weak. "Skotos is almost at full charge. He has all of Sunny's magic. All he needs is her soul. And he has three of our friends. Can we really stand up and beat him? We can't even use the Elements of Unity. Not with just three of us."

Misty sighed, dropping her head. Izzy was right of course. Going to face Skotos now would only be giving him exactly what he wanted. It'd be stupid, foolish, and reckless. Then something Twilight said rang through her head.

'I was able to sneak in the key to defeating Skotos without him knowing. It was before we met again in the dream realm. If you think back, and with a little help from your friends, you'll figure it out.'

Misty closed her eyes, thinking back to when she first fell through that black hole thing on the floor. The mess of images and voices. It hurt her head just thinking about it, but she forced herself to anyway. That was when she gasped. She remembered that some images stood out to her. Specific ones.

"Hey…uh…I might have something. During my trip to learn the truth, in the beginning, I saw a lot of images and heard a lot of voices. But Twilight said that in that mess of images, she left clues. I couldn't remember any of them, but a few stood out to me. One was of an exodus of a bunch of alicorns. Does that sound useful?"

Winter's eyes widened as realization seemed to strike him. "That's it! Misty, you're a genius! Why didn't I think of that?"

"I…am…?" Misty asked, confused.

"The fire alicorns! We can get the fire alicorns to help us!"

"I thought Opaline did something to them." Izzy pointed out, confused as well.

"That's just what my father wanted you to think. But my father exiled them."

"Do you know where they are, Winter?" Misty asked, feeling herself growing hopeful.

"Yeah. I do. But so does Skotos. But the Fire Alicorns rebelled and put an invisububble around their land, a lot like what Twilight did, so Skotos couldn't see inside. We'll be safe there."

"Then that's what we'll do. When Sunny wakes up and regains her strength, we'll head out and search for the Fire Alicorns."

"No…no…stop…" Sunny muttered as she began to squirm. She was still in the castle, still having her magic stolen from her. She was still screaming in pain as her nightmares made her relive the scene. That was when she sat up, her eyes snapping open as she screamed, "NO!"

She panted heavily, looking around. Where…where was she? It…it looked like she was in a cave of some sort. She gasped immediately as she grabbed her chest with her hoof. It hurt there…so much. She looked down at it to see a massive already-formed bruise along it. It was tender to the touch.

Tears came to her eyes as she remembered what happened in the throne room. She could feel it…the way it was missing from her. Like a big part of who she was was just…missing. It was like she was no longer herself without it. He took more than just her magic. He took a piece of her.

Sunny looked down at her cutie mark. Or, rather, she looked at her blank flank. Her heart hurt just seeing it, but it hurt even more just thinking about…

She shook her head. No. She wouldn't think about him. Not now. Not ever. He was a player, a villain, and she played into his horrible game. But, she knew this much. She would make him pay.

Suddenly, Sunny heard baby sounds, like cooing and gurgling. Sunny looked up to see Sparky waddling out of the cave…wall? Must be some enchantment thing Misty set up. Which must mean…her friends are okay. Sunny breathed a sigh of relief. Thank hoofness her friends were alright. She should've known they'd be okay. They always were.

When Sparky caught sight of Sunny, he gasped and his little face brightened up in a big smile. He waddled up to her, trying to climb onto her mattress, but he was a little too small. Sunny went to pick him up with her magic, only to remember she didn't have any. She grabbed him with her hooves and hugged him closely.

"Oh, thank moons you're okay. I'm not sure how Hitch would've reacted if something happened to you." She muttered into his ear, hugging him tightly. She'd never been so happy to see the baby dragon.

Then, Sunny heard arguing. "I can't believe you lost him, Seashell!"

"I didn't lose him! It was your turn to watch him Peach Fizz!"

"No, it wasn't! I was supposed to help Izzy make the tea!"

"No! I was so I can help Izzy grow the ingredients for the tea with my earth pony magic so Misty and–"

The arguing stopped as two fillies also walked out of the cave wall. They both froze as they caught sight of her, their eyes wide with…well, Sunny couldn't tell. But, soon, they both gasped with huge smiles as they ran to Sunny.

"Sunny!" Seashell exclaimed, a huge smile on her face. "You're okay!"

"Sunny, here. Izzy said you need to drink this as soon as you wake up. It'll help you regain your strength," Peach Fizz said as she picked up a teapot and a mug with her magic, carefully pouring the tea into the mug and handing it to Sunny, who grabbed it with her magic. "It's a special Bridlewood brew. We've been feeding it to you for the past two days, three times a day, and now you're awake!"

"I've been out for two days?" Sunny asked wearily as she felt her head pound. She took a sip of the tea, and while it didn't taste the best, it did soothe her massive headache.

"Well, actually, you've been out for five," Seashell admitted a bit reluctantly.

"Where are our friends? Are…are they here?" Sunny asked weakly.

Seashell and Peach Fizz looked at each other. "Well, uh…no," Peach Fizz answered. "They…they were captured by King Skotos. I mean, Izzy and Misty weren't. They're right here. But…"

When they saw Sunny begin to panic, Seashell quickly amended, "B-but don't worry, we have a plan."

"Well, pieces of a plan," Peach Fizz added.

"Yeah. More like one step, b-but it's something!" Seashell continued.

"Yeah, we're going to find the exiled fire alicorns!" Peach Fizz finished. "And they'll help us defeat Skotos."

"Hopefully," Seashell muttered, earning a nod from Peach Fizz.

"Right, well, where's–" Sunny started, only to stop when she heard yet another voice she recognized.

Seashell! Peach Fizz! I thought we told you to stay behind the false–" Izzy gasped dramatically when she saw Sunny. "SUNNY!" She exclaimed in pure and utter joy.

She bounded up to Sunny and wrapped her in a tight embrace, making Sunny spill her tea. Sunny would've warned her to be careful, but Sunny didn't care. She was just happy her friend was okay. Sunny squeezed Izzy tightly, burying her face in her friend's mane.

After a long moment of hugging, the two friends reluctantly separated. Sunny looked behind Izzy to see Misty waiting patiently. Sunny smiled, reaching a hoof out in invitation. Misty didn't waste a moment, hurrying over to hug Sunny tightly. Thank goodness she was okay.

"Alright. I think I got the protective wards all set up now. And we have a new batch of tea brewing on the stove and–"

Sunny gasped when she recognized that voice. She pushed Misty away, her eyes wide with disbelief. But her shocked gaze quickly turned to anger and rage. How dare he show his face here? How dare he waltz back in here like he belonged here? How dare he come back to take the rest of her friends?! Over her damn dead body!

Winter gasped upon seeing Sunny, his eyes lighting up. "Princess! You're awake!"

"DON'T CALL ME THAT YOU LYING PIECE OF SHIT!" Sunny turned to her friends, who had shocked expressions and were shocked speechless. They've never seen such fire, such hate, in their friend's eyes. "What is he doing here?! Do you have any idea what he's done?!"

"He saved your life, Sunny. Misty and I, we…we had to leave you behind but…Winter…he brought you here."

Sunny scoffed, crossing her hooves. "Saved my life my hoof. What happened, Your Highness? Came back as your father's fail-safe?"

"What are you…ohh…" Winter's eyes widened in understanding as he remembered. He had been so worried about Sunny that he very nearly forgot.

"Yeah. That." Sunny turned back to Winter with a look of murder in her eyes. "You told your father everything about me! You influenced my memories! You…you betrayed me!"

"Wait, Sunny, it's not like that–" Winter tried to explain, but Sunny wouldn't hear of it. She didn't want to hear it.

"Oh, so he didn't have you send that letter to Flurry Heart about bringing Misty to Skyros as bait?"

"Well, yes, he did but–"

"And he didn't ask you to spy on me?!"

"He did, but Sunny, just try to understand–"

"And you didn't tell him that part of Twilight's soul was reincarnated into ME?!" Sunny was growing angrier and angrier with each word. "And you DIDN'T just invite me to THAT PARTY TO GET ME ALONE?!" Tears filled Sunny's eyes as she felt her heartbreak. "AND YOU DIDN'T JUST STAND BY WHILE YOUR FATHER DRAINED ME OF ALL OF MY MAGIC?!" She was practically screeching now, scaring the Pippsqueaks. Misty told them to go behind the fake wall and wait there and they happily complied.

"Sunny…I'm so sorry, I didn't realize–"

"I knew it! You did betray me! What a relief! So glad we got that cleared up!"

"Sunny, please! Just…just let me explain–"

"WHY?! So you can tell me more of your damn LIES?! I thought you were my friend! I thought that maybe…just maybe we had a connection! That maybe you felt the same way!"

"Sunny, I do. You–"

"But…I was wrong. Dead wrong, I guess, which is ironic because, hey, I almost DIED!"

"Sunny, please. You were my first friend. I…I love you," Winter pleaded softly, tears of his own filling his eyes.

"Oh yeah?! I thought I did too! But that was just you influencing my emotions too, right?! Making me think I loved you?!"

"What? No, I would never–"

"Oh, save me your BULLSHIT!" Sunny was now standing up, pushing past him towards the cave exit.

"Sunny, wait! You can't leave!" Misty called out.

"NO! I won't be in the same room er…cave or whatever as HIM!"

"Sunny, it's not safe. My father is still looking for you." Winter warned, his expression and tone full of concern.

"I don't CARE! As long as I'm away from YOU!" Sunny yelled, bolting towards the exit. Before any of them could say another word, Sunny was long gone and the three ponies were silent.

"That went well..." Winter muttered after a moment, looking after the way Sunny left.

There was a moment of silence before Winter walked out of the cave. Misty and Izzy tried to protest, but he just ignored them, continuing after the love of his life. He stopped for a moment, not sure where to even begin looking. So, he just started walking, hoping to just...stumble upon her.

Sunny ran through the woods that surrounded the cave, tears streaming down her face. She was an idiot. She was a damn idiot! She barely knew him for three days and she thought it was true love at first sight? So stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid!

She skidded to a stop before a river, sniffling and crying. Why? Why was she so quick to befriend somepony who would just betray her later? It was Misty all over again. Why did she keep trusting the wrong ponies? Why didn't she learn her lesson?

🎵Don't know why…I did it…🎵 Sunny began to sing, though it was more of a broken sob than a song.

🎵Don't know why…I gave…in.
Now my heart…is breaking…
I won't be made a fool again!

I thought he…was honest…
When I looked into his eyes…
But look at where…that's got me…
It all…has been…a lie.🎵

There was a moment of silence as Sunny sobbed into her hooves. She was so stupid! Why was she crying over a stallion she barely knew? Why was she having such strong feelings towards him?

Suddenly, she heard the sound of another singing voice, this one in a familiar tune.

🎵If I had only felt the warmth within your touch…
If I had only seen how you smile when you blush…🎵

Sunny stood up, ready to bolt again, but she was just too tired. But it wasn't just exhaustion that stopped her. It was something else. Something she couldn't explain.

🎵Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough,
Oh, I would've known, what I was living for…all along.
What I've been living for.🎵

Slowly, Sunny turned around, glaring at him. He obviously wouldn't stop until she did something, but…then she thought…did she want him to stop?

🎵I surrender who I've been,
To who you are.
Nothing makes me stronger than,
Your fragile heart.
If I had only felt how it feels to be yours,
Well, I would've known,
What I've been living for…all along.🎵

Sunny was silent for a moment, her breath heavy, her eyes burning from tears. She could tell he was truly sorry for what he had done. And she wanted to forgive him. She wanted to forgive him so badly. She wanted to move on and pretend this never happened. But she couldn't. She just...couldn't. Not while her magic was still gone. Not while her flank was still blank. Not while her friends were captured by his father. Not while these constant reminders existed day in and day out.

"I'm so sorry, Pr–I mean, Sunny. Really, I am. I was…such a coward. I should've stood up to my father before it got this bad. I was just…scared. Everything was happening so…quickly. I…I couldn't wrap my mind around it and…but that's no excuse. I'm…I'm so, so, sorry."

"I…I believe you," Sunny said after a long moment. Winter grew hopeful, but Sunny's next words dashed those hopes away. "But…Winter, I can't forgive you. Not…not yet anyway." Sunny looked Winter dead in the eye so Winter could see the full extent of the pain she was feeling. "Winter, you invaded my memories, my life. Things I never wanted anypony else to see. And not only that, but you influenced them. You made me relive my worst ones. You made me relive the day my dad died. The very worst day of my life. A day…I never wished to ever think about again. You forced me to be bare to you without my consent. Without even my knowledge. You hurt me. You betrayed my trust. You betrayed me in ways I didn't even think were possible. And you hurt me in the worst way possible. They were my memories! It was my life! And you controlled them like they were nothing but strings on a puppet. You did that not only to me, but you did it to Misty! Misty! The sweetest pony I know, who has already been through so much! How could you?! How could you do that?! To her?! To me?! I thought you were MY FRIEND! But...friends don't do this! FRIENDS DON'T RAPE THEIR FRIEND'S MIND!" A sob was building in Sunny's throat again, but she quickly tried to wipe away the tears, but it was moot. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. "So...no. I can't forgive you, Winter. I...I can barely look at you."

And with that, Sunny walked away, back to the cave. Winter stood there for a moment, his heart a broken mess of pain. Because Sunny was right. She was completely right. He crossed so many lines that he couldn't uncross that night at the dance. He went too far by miles upon miles by doing what he did. He didn't even deserve Sunny.

So, after everything, Winter got down on his knees and yelled! He yelled at the heavens, he yelled at his father, he yelled at himself. He yelled until his voice was raw.

He didn't deserve this mare and yet, he needed to fix what he could.

Sunny sighed, continuing her way to the cave when she couldn't hear Winter's yells anymore.

Sunny walked into the cave, wiping tears away. Her friends watched her with concerned looks, but she could see the question they tried so hard to hide.

"Yeah, he'll be here in a moment. He just…needed some time alone too." Sunny muttered. "So, uh...what's the plan?"

"Well, we can't face Skotos now. Misty's strength is almost completely regained but...she's still a little weak. And you..." Izzy trailed off, looking away. "Even if we were all at full strength, we wouldn't be able to face an army of alicorns on our own. We need an army."

"So, we're going to go get ourselves one," Misty finished.

"The fire alicorns," Sunny stated dully. At her friends' confused looks, she clarified. "The Pippsqueaks. They filled me in. Kinda."

Izzy handed Sunny a cup of tea with her magic. "Here. Drink this. Tonight, we'll head out. On a whole new mission. This is so exciting!"

Misty looked determinedly out the entrance of the cave, her friends behind her. "And this time...we won't fail…"

Author's Note

Alright! A Trial of Secrets is over. The story continues in the sequel Skyfall. I know there are still many questions, and they will be answered in the next story. I might release a trailer of it in the Heroism, Family, and Friendship group, so keep an eye out.

Also, I may release a short about Flurry Heart and Luster Dawn. It'll only be like one chapter, but, I don't know, we'll see. I got the beginnings of an idea but we'll see where it goes.

It might take awhile for the next story to come out because I'll be working tirelessly on the revival, and that'll come first, so, I'll try and write it in my extra time, but it might be a bit. Thus the trailer. So yeah, keep an eye out.

Also, the song I used is "Turning Page" by Sleeping At Last and the other one was "Most Chaotically Reprise" by DisneyFanatic2364

And since we're at the end of the story, here's the answer: Winter was originally based on Prince Naveen from Princess and the Frog. Congrats to those who got it right!

Hakuna Matata