Who Needs the Sunshine

by Atuhor Name

Epilogue

Betrayal

Naudia felt pain. She felt pain when she opened her eyes and light pierced them. Pain shot up her leg, as she lifted it up to block out the light, her atrophied muscles protesting movement. In fact, the only part of her that didn't hurt was her stomach, which was pleasantly full.

She was alive; something she wasn't expecting.

Moving her aching head up, she was immediately knocked back down by a wave of anger. Steadying herself this time, her eyes darted over to the sound of clinking metal and met Twilight's. Slowly, painfully, Naudia brought her gaze down to the object in Twilight's hooves. There sat a pair of utilitarian hoof-cuffs, enchanted so as not to break, and worn through many years of use.

Twilight knew.

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Twilight was furious. She felt hurt. The pony she trusted with her heart had torn it out. Twilight had thought Naudia had been hiding something, but her heart told her not to believe her mind. “It’s just prejudice,” it told her. “Naudia would never throw this away.”

"I don't know why I'm asking you this," Twilight said, staring directly into Naudia's eyes. "You'll probably just tell me a lie anyway. But can you explain for what purpose you had these, and a very powerful magic suppressor, hidden in your saddlebags?"

After it looked like no answer was forthcoming, Twilight opened her mouth to lash out at Naudia, but was interrupted when Naudia blurted out:

"Those were intended for me!"

"Explain." Twilight said, nonplussed.

Naudia took a deep breath to steady herself.

"Remember when I said that I was going to answer for my people’s crimes in front of Celestia? That was the truth, but not the whole truth... Celestia is scared of changelings, almost to the point of paranoia."

Twilight looked at Naudia even more suspiciously than before.

"I spoke to her in Canterlot under Luna's guise, and even then I could feel suspicion and fear from her. I spent some time there trying to collect love off of nobles before then as well. There were daily checks for changelings."

"Then, one guard whose wife had gone missing after the attack was brought to a closed court on suspicion of harboring a changeling... he made it out of there, but I could feel Celestia's disappointment when he did." Naudia looked up into Twilight's eyes with a pleading expression. "This has to end, Twilight. We've been running from our problems for over a thousand years, and it’s hurting ponies now. So now I face a choice: step forth and answer for our crimes, alone, or starve my days away, alone, in the Badlands."

"But why the chains?" Twilight asked, “Why the…” Twilight looked at the terrible little ring that went over a horn.

"That is so when you bring me in, Twilight, that neither Celestia nor your friends will suspect you’ve helped me. You've already lost your friends once to a changeling. I will not let you lose them again."

"That’s why you made me promise not to do something stupid in your defense?"

"Yes."

"But... but do you have any idea what Celestia will do to you?"

"I have to do this Twilight. Somepony has to take responsibility. Equestria can't live in fear of shadows." Naudia looked down. “Especially shadows that have already passed.”

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It had been a quiet two days while Naudia recovered. Little was said in the hidden camp they made a couple miles outside Dodge Junction. They were making their final preparations to leave, and Naudia held her head high, her conviction unwavering, the magic suppressor already clamped onto her horn.

Twilight hesitated, with the hoof-cuffs floating in midair.

"Are you sure about this, Naudia?" Twilight's eyes told Naudia that she honestly hoped the answer would be no.

"Yes, Twilight, you're almost out of food. We can't wait any longer." Naudia glanced over at the speck that was Dodge City in the distance.

"Are you sure you can't try the diplomatic option? I'm sure Celestia would be-"

"This is the only way to put you above suspicion Twilight. I couldn't bear the thought that you could lose your friends twice over a changeling."

Twilight began putting the hoofcuffs on Naudia, hesitating at every step until the last shaky click. Twilight stood up and tried to steady herself for what was to come.

"I'm not sure when I'm going to see you again after this, but being with you has been the most fun I've had since I first came to Ponyville. And... and..."

Twilight wrapped Naudia in a hug, holding her close, as if she was afraid the changeling queen would float away.

"I love you."

"I know, Twilight."

After several minutes and a few sniffles from a noticeably downcast Twilight, they got moving again. Dodge Junction was already in sight, and an uncertain future awaited Naudia. Maybe the ponies there would throw stones, or maybe they would lock her in a dungeon and she would never see the sun again.

But when she looked at the unicorn walking in front of her she knew this was a sacrifice she had to make.

"Who needs the sunshine when you're here?" Naudia whispered into the wind looking longingly at the lavender unicorn who was so close, and yet farther than ever from her.

"When you carry the sunshine with you."

Author's Note:

Sequel
There was also a much sadder ending that I considered but I'm probably not going to post it here.

Currently in the process of Revision, original is here:

All chapters individually: https://www.mediafire.com/?t77ce2z72lnslpg
Entire story all in one: https://www.mediafire.com/?t77ce2z72lnslpg