When Colors Fade Away

It's never easy

Another dawn came slowly and ominous over our heads. The golden hours of the day presented us a watercolor of pinks and oranges in the sky. Reddish were our eyes, after tiresome hours staring at the computer screen, refusing to accept what was happening around our little world.

Even though, we knew the painful reality, the truth that I - that we - never expected to see.

When I was young, and my father woke me up in the dead of the night. Initially I was confused, but when we walked downstairs, my confusion was replaced by astonishment. My entire family was already in the living room, crowded around our small television. My mother placed an arm around my chest and just pointed to the 'breaking news' tag at the bottom of the scene.

I knew something important was happening, but the excited chatter of my parents wouldn't let me understand a thing of what the reporter was saying. Suddenly, they appeared, and then silence took place. My jaw dropped when I saw those fascinating creatures walking out of a tunnel - a long, white tunnel. My little mind was too focused on their appearance to even bother on what everyone was talking about.

My father's hand touched my shoulder delicately, I turned around - He smiled like a child, those warm eyes looking at me full of joy.

"It happened Dan!" He said.

"We've made contact!"

It's incredible how time passes so fast.

"Fleur-"

"F-fleur, look at me." Gently, I lifted up her chin, her velvety fur wet after so many tears, all of them wasted away through the night. "We'll find a way- my dear... I promise, okay? "

A painful smile formed on my lips, with the tip of my fingers I moved some strands of hair away from her deep violet eyes, she was destroyed. I've been sacrificing all my life to keep ourselves - at least psychologically - as strong as possible, but as the days went by, my promises were becoming weak, and heavy as a bag of rocks.

"I'll never - never, let them take you away from me." Almost fatherly, I kissed her forehead. Whispering softly as a summer breeze, trying to find comfort inside a cage. Those bittersweet words were becoming colder with each day, as our hopes dissolved in the uncertain wind.

"You know I trust you Dan... But I'm not s-sure about this anymore." Her eyes pointed to the television. The crisis again...

"I don't w-want to go back through the t-tunnel- I don't wan't to l-leave-" I wrapped my arms tightly around her body.

"You won't..." And in that moment, I felt the worst kind of pain- when you're smiling only to stop tears to fall.

I was holding my hands together to hide my nervousness. A decision had to be made after all, but the real problem was the eventual outcome of our choice.

Booth were equally painful and irreversible.

Everyone was informed all of a sudden; in 24 hours, all ponies should return to Equestria. The portals would be closed, and every single bond destroyed.

It wasn't a matter of patriotic obligation to return- It was a matter of life and death. With the dimensional gates sealed and disabled, all magical bonds would crumble away.

For humans it's physically harmless, but for Equestrian life forms... The absence of magic is a fate worse than death.

Have you ever saw what happens to a human body without food? After a few days, our brain cells start to cannibalize themselves to survive, flesh starts to deteriorate, and we get weaker and weaker - In a week or so, hallucinations start, soon we can't stand up anymore because of muscular atrophy.

Heartbeats drop significantly, we're getting colder. In three weeks, our vision gets blurred frequently, you notice your eyes can't stay focused anymore. After six weeks, all basic systems break down, what remained of your body... Is a specter.

You're skin and bones, still alive- but at what cost?

I don't wan't to bear witness such a horrendous way of dying. And still, they call this a choice.

Forgive me... But I'm not strong enough.

I tremulously lifted my hands to the sides of my head and wrapped them around my neck.

"D-daniel... I-" The unicorn paused.

She grabbed my hand with a hoof, I unconsciously closed my fingers around it.

"Please, let me stay."

"This is ridiculous! How could you... How could you even consider the probability??"

"Ridiculous? Dad, I'm 23 years old- I think I can decide what's better for my own life! Who are you to talk about morality?"

"I'm your father, and you're a human for Christ's sake! She's not for you Daniel, she'll make you suffer. Just try to reason, please! What your mother would say about-"

"Don't talk about my mother! Don't you dare to mention her again..." "It's all your fault..."

"G-get out of my house!"

"NOW!"

"I can't..." I dropped her hoof. "I j-just can't, I'm sorry."

I stood up from the couch, time was running out.

"What you're talking about? I-I..." She stopped.

The sun beans escaping from the curtains drew my attention to an old wooden table by my side, a strap of light illuminated a small photo frame.

Silently, I picked it.

Right there, frozen in time, was one of the first pictures we took together; Fleur was sitting by my side in one of those concrete beaches, while waves gently broke against the rocks below. It was the perfect shot, at the perfect moment, right when the sun reflected on the tiny droplets of water, creating a beautiful aura around our bodies.

Paradinni Beach.

It was hard to believe that happened over a decade ago.

"Pack your things. You're going back to Equestria." I looked through the window, my eyes avoiding her face. I couldn't falter this time.

"What?"

"D-dan, n-no. I'm not leaving you, I can't go back-" She trotted to my side. "You promised!"

"I lied Fleur, I lied."

"No you don't- Daniel, you never-"

"I lied to you dammit!"

It crushed so hard. I could feel my soul collapsing inside of me, while I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"All the fucking time I just wanted what was best for you!" I leaned my back against the wall, tears rolling down my face, I slowly slid down to sit. "B-but I just can't let someone else die because of me."

"Not again..."

Author's Note

I can't say much about this story... It just came out of nowhere.

I hope you 'like' it.