Painting our Life - 6 Colors

   The sun shines through the thin curtains of my living room window. Light slowly creep through the cracks of my eyelids. I slowly open my eyes and rub them sleepily. My feet ache like crazy. I feel like crap. I sneeze, and a lump in my throat threatens to burn if I swallow. I'm obviously sick. I'll call work later and tell them I've caught a cold.  My arms feel like they've fallen off, as if I was lifting weights all night. Then it all snaps back into my mind. I remember my little trek last night, with the rescue of a cyan pony.

   I walk up the stairs and into my room. The bowl of soup I left out for her last night is now empty, meaning Dash got up last night to eat. She's sound asleep in my bed. Her mane is ruffled, but she looks better rested than she did last night. I gently sit down beside her on the rim of the bed. I put a hand on her hoof. It's warm. But on touch, she jolts wakes up. When she sees me, her eyes widen.

   "Please don't hurt me," She wimpers, "I won't bother you anymore." She's seen the cruelty of this world now. Her eyes are portray fear... for me. This won't work. Something magical happened last night. I've, changed a bit. I smile. The look on her face quickly change, to shock.

   "Thank you." I say. She doesn't seem to understand.

   "For what? I haven't done anything yet." She waits for a reply, to fill her in on what she missed.

   "You've done more than what you think you've done. In these past few days, you've given me a bit of company to fill that hole I had for the past years of my life." I hadn't thought of it at the time. But when she left, my day felt, just so empty. I think she knows now. "I'm grateful for that, but, I have a few questions that I need answered before I answer yours."

   "Shoot." She makes herself comfortable.

   "What're you doing here?" Her eyes widen again. Not expecting that. She bites her lower lip thoughtfully, thinking up a good way to answer my question.

   "I'm going to be honest with you. I was exiled here." The words sting me a bit, we both knew she told me she was here to help. "The reason why, is something I cannot let just anypony-" She stops. "Anyone know." She looks away, not meeting my gaze. "I regret what I've done."

   "Why did you tell me you were here to help me then?" My tone is firm, I felt angry, and sympathy.

   "You'll never believe me."

   "You don't think this isn't crazy enough? With you being a cartoon pony and even EXISTING in this world? It's against how everyone in this world were taught." I say with no hesitation. She sighs.

   "I don't know how. But before I was sent here, I had these visions, of you." She squeezes her eyes shut, trying to think. "Most of your life played out in front of my eyes, like a movie." It's hard to believe, but her eyes don't betray her words. I sigh. How is this possible? What does it mean?

   "Even then, why would you help ME? There are so many people in this world." I talk openly, not afraid to tell her the feelings I've canned inside for my whole life. "I'm nothing special." She shakes her head.

   "Both you and I have gone through the same thing." In a small voice, she whispers, "I'm an orphan." Those words crush me. I haven't spoken to another orphan since I checked out of the orphanage. "My parents left me when I was just a small filly, I don't even remember them. I just don't let it bother me. And it shouldn't bother you." She smiles, it's all she needs to do to show she knows what I've been through as well. I think, I know why she's the one person I wanted to be with. She's just like me. Except, she's not afraid to share things I would've kept hiding. "I suppose I should get going now, since my help is no longer required and my work here was done without me lifting a hoof." She climbs out of my bed.

   Wait... What? "You almost froze to death out there!" Dash looks away from me. "Not to mention the fact that if other people see you, they'll probably call the zoo, even worse, the military!" She remains silent.

   "So, where do you think I can be? I can't return to where I came from. I have no where to stay. I'm jus-"

   I cut her off. "Stay with me." I put on my best smile, but I'm not sure it's enough to convince her. "You tried so hard in the past couple of days to make me happy. And I'd be happier if you stayed to live with me." She grins from ear to ear.

   "Sure." One word. All it took for my day to lighten up. Her stomach grumbles. She blushes a bit. I laugh, but my stomach follows suit and let's out a grumble greater than hers. I just realize I didn't eat yesterday. She giggles. I go down into the kitchen and make us both some breakfast. She eats her fill quickly and go outside to stretch her wings a bit, before the invisibility spell wears off. I gave her a scarf I dug up from my old clothing box to wear. I munch dreamily on my slice of toast. Rainbow Dash was clearly written over my future, I know it, and my life is stepping up slowly. And for once, I look forward to living.