Rainbow Faded

A/N: So, here is where the story really starts.

A few more things that I must say:

1- The story won't have long chapters because I don't have much time to make it. So, I choose to make short chapters to be able to post with some frequency.

2- I don't have any kind of proof reader or someone to fix my mistakes in grammar so, expect some minor things here and there. And finally…

3- I really hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it.

So… Enough with the boring talk!

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The dark purple Pegasus was dragged by the flow, reaching calm waters outside Everfree forest. His body rested at the margins of the river. He had the whole body covered in bruises and his head was still bleeding a little. It was a miracle that the foal was still alive. It was impossible to know how much time has passed until he finally began to awake.

Monochrome coughed a few times, feeling his throat stinging. When he opened his eyes it was so dark that he literally couldn't see a hoof in front of his nose. No stars or moon on the sky… not a single trace of light. But if it was night and it was so dark… why did he still felt like the sun light was warming his coat?

"Are you alright boy?" A male voice came from the foal's side and he jumped in startle. Turned to see who it was… but it was so dark.

"I…I think so…" Monochrome said a little confused. "Why are you out here at this hour of the night mister? And how can you see anything in this dark?" It was a little hard for him to talk… after his ride on the river, he was still tired to the point that breath was a big effort.

"Night? Son, the sun is high in the sky… It's lunch time already." The male voice said again.

"WHAT!?" Monochrome felt a rush of adrenaline on his veins… his heart started to beat extremely fast… it couldn't be! "N-no… no… my…" The foal spread his wings suddenly and started to flap them as fast as he could to fly away.

"BOY! WAIT!" The male voice called but it was too late. Monochrome, without the ability to see, went straight to a tree and smashed against a tree. Waves of pain washed his head and he fell unconscious again.

Petal Wind was a light pink unicorn with a white mane. She was just finishing the chores at her house while humming a song to herself... Her husband would probably arrive shortly. She lived miles away from Ponyvile and Cloudsdale, on the other side of Everfree forest. Her house was really simple and had only one floor. Not far from there was a barn and in front of it, spreading for a few acres, was her farm. She and her husband grew a very special type of wheat. With the help of her magic, they could produce more flour than normal. And that was really handy because her farm alone had to supply Ponyvile with constants shipments of flour.

She went outside, carrying a bucket of water that needed to be thrown away after being used to clean the floor. The sound of hooves took her attention. As she looked back, Petal Wind saw her husband approaching fast. He was a yellow colt with brown mane and tail. Her lips widened in a warm smile. She trotted in his direction to meet him but something else caught her attention. He was carrying something on his back… something purple… a foal!

"Petal! Help me here!" The yellow colt said as he passed his wife and stormed in the house.

She ran right behind him and used her magic to lift the unconscious foal from his back, laying him on the couch.

"By Celestia! What happen to him!?" She asked looking at the state of the foal…

"I don't know… I found him near the river that comes out of Everfree forest." The stallion said panting a little. "It looks like he fell on the river and was dragged here…"

"But this wound on his head looks really fresh…" She said looking at the recent bruise on his head.

"Yes… when I found him he was waking up… but… well… he's blind." He started to explain

"Blind?" She asked.

"More like he got blind after he fell on the river… Because he panicked and tried to fly… the poor thing hit a tree and fell unconscious." Earthy Touch said, sitting on his haunches.

"I'll take care of his wounds… but I don't think I can do anything about his… blindness." She said looking at the sleeping foal.

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Using her magic, Petal Wind took care of the foal's wounds. When he was clean, she warped some bandages around his eyes and head. Not that he had any eye injury, but if he wake up and opened his eyes to discover that he was blind, there was a big chance that he would panic again. Monochrome was then placed in the couple's bed to sleep a little more comfortable.

Hours would pass until the foal finally started to awake… and Petal Wind was right next to him. Monochrome mumbled something and reached a hoof over his eyes, touching the bandages. Another hoof came and touched his.

"shh… don't take them out just yet dear…" Petal Wind said with a motherly voice.

"What… what happen…? Where am I and… and why my eyes are covered? Who are you?" Monochrome said trying to organize his memories but it was all blurry and confused.

"You were found by my husband, Earthy Touch, at the margins of a river that comes out from Everfree forest… you are now in my home..." she said.

"And… and my eyes…?" Monochrome asked again.

"Well… I didn't found any injuries on them… but my husband said that you couldn't see…" she started to explain.

"I'm blind isn't it?"

"You… hm… yes dear… I'm sorry to say it… but you are blind… BUT! It may be temporary…" She explained before he could freak out again.

"Temporary? Like… I will be able to see again someday?" His voice was full of hopes.

"Yes… one day maybe…" She caressed his head with a hoof, really gently. "Now, tell me dear… what it your name?"

"I'm Monochrome…" He said sighing.

"And where do you live?" She asked.

"I live at…" He started but stopped. "Well… it is… ahm… is…" He lowered his ears. "I… I don't remember… why… why can't I remember where I live!?" He said turning his head towards Petal.

"Shh... calm down now... you must have hit your head too hard… can you say the names of your parents?" She said trying to calm the foal.

"No I… I don't even remember their faces… or who they are!" Monochrome started to breath fast… he was trying to be calm, but it was not an easy task. He couldn't remember where he lived, who their parents were, or how he ended up in a river. Not a single memory of his past.

Suddenly he felt a pair of hooves warping around his body. Petal hugged him tight co comfort the young foal.

"Calm down now… you don't need to worry… your memories will come back in time" She said softly. Monochrome simply hugged her back and buried his snout on her neck, crying in silence for several minutes. Hot tears soaked the bandages and reached her coat… Monochrome only stopped crying after he finally fell asleep again.

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Petal Wind walked out of the bedroom and closed the door behind her with a sight. Earthy Touch was in the living room, sitting on the couch looking at her wife with a worried frown.

"So... how is he?" He asked when she got closer to him.

"Not good... he can't remember anything aside his own name. Despite that, his wounds are not that bad." She climbed on the couch.

"I'll take him to Ponyvile tomorrow... maybe the authorities there can find his parents" Earthy said passing a hoof over his wife shoulders.

"I think that's a bad idea... If he can't remember even his parents faces, he'll probably end up in some kind of orphanage in Canterlot or other city... and the chances that he'll find his parents again are really thin anyway..." She said and then looked at him in the eyes... the yellow stallion immediately got her thoughts.

"Oh no... dear... you know that this is a terrible idea." He said frowning.

"But we always wanted a foal of our own... and so far I couldn't-" He gently pressed a hoof over her mouth.

"I know dear, but it's not your fault..." He said gently...

"I know... but maybe this is destiny? I mean, what are the odds that we find a young foal like that?" She said.

"I... well... I think you are right..." He said and sighed. "Maybe this is fate... we'll keep him, at least until he can recover his memories of where he lives or who his parents are..."

She smiled widely and pulled his husband for a long kiss.

"Thank you honey..." She hugged him tightly and he simple smiled hugging her back.

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It took three days of rest and care for Monochrome to finally recover completely from his wounds and to cheer up a little. What helped him a lot was that Petal Wind had a really motherly nature and was always near to help him when he needed to get out of the bed for any reason. Earthy Touch grew found of the boy too. Despite his limitation, Monochrome was always trying to do things on his own... He had a really strong will for someone so young.

At the morning of the fourth day the small family was already on the road, walking towards Ponlyvile. Earthy in one side, petal on the other and Monochrome in the middle of both. Even without his vision, Monochrome walked with confidence and if there was a curve his new found foster parents were there to guide him. The foal kept the bandages around his eyes.

"So... why don't you take these off?" Earthy Touch asked to the foal next to him. "There is no need for you to keep wearing them."

"I know but... I don't like the feeling of not being able to see even with my eyes open... is.. weird... " Monochrome answered shrugging.

Usually the way to Ponyvile only take one hour of walking, but thanks to Monochrome, they took two and a half hour to finally arrive at the city. Everpony stopped to look at the couple with the blind foal. Many had a sad expression on their faces, feeling pity for someone so young without the blessing of working eyes. Another few minutes and they were walking inside the local clinic for foals.

Earthy touch ran with Monochrome to the gentlecolt's room... the poor foal were holding since they arrived at the city. Petal watched as his husband guided the foal, and how fatherly he was acting. She was so distracted with her thoughts that didn't noticed that she was right in front of the main door, blocking the passage of an earth mare with a pegasus foal.

"Ahem... excuse me miss?" The earth mare asked to petal.

Petal looked at her and blushed a little

"Oh sorry... erm... I got.. distracted..." she said really embarrassed.

"Don't worry with that..." The earth mare giggled. "I bet you were thinking about your foal right? They can be such a joy to our lives..." she sighed.

"Is something wrong?" Petal asked looking at the suddenly sad face of the earth mare.

"Well... I... I lost a foal few days ago..." The earth mare said looking at her other foal. "An accident... he was my elder and this is my youngest... Candy Mane."

Petal looked at the dark purple pegasus with a white and pink mane... The young pegasus simply looked the other way, avoiding eye contact.

"I'm... I'm sorry to hear that." Petal said lowering her ears.

"Don't worry... I guess the best for us all is to simply move on. I brought Candy mane here because she refuses o speak since the incident... But I can't really blame her..." The earth mare said, rubbing her snout on her foal head in a motherly way.

A pegasus stallion approached them and kissed the earth mare on her cheek... He had just came out of the doctor's room.

"I thought you two were going to wait for me outside..." He said.

"And I thought you would only have a 'slam talk' with the doctor..." She reply faking and angry frown. "But you took so long that I was already going in there to fetch you!" She said and the stallion chuckled.

"Oh my... such an over protective wife..." He said and rubbed his snout on her's, making the earth mare smile.

"Let's go?" The earth mare asked to her husband. He simply nodded and walked outside.

"Good luck with your foal" The earth mare said smiling and then she left with her husband and Candy Mane.

Right after that, Earthy Touch and Monochrome got out of the bathroom. The foal got a more relaxed expression. She nuzzled the foal in the head and kissed the cheek of her husband... Petal didn't know why, but those actions simply felt right, especially after hear the tragic story.

"You ok dear?" Earthy said smiling at his wife

"Sure... is just that I heard a really sad story just now and-..." Her phrase was cut when the doctor's door opened and a nurse called for them.

The doctor was a light brown stallion with a dark brown mane. He was wearing a pair of glasses and a white medial coat. He looked worried at the foal with bandages covering his eyes and that was the first thing that he looked. The doctor took of all the bandages and used a small lantern to examine the foals eyes.

"Hm... No external damage so far... you said that you found him in the river, right?" The doctor asked Earthy Touch.

"Yes... he had several bruises and hit his head on a tree after he woke up..." The yellow Stallion explained.

Monochrome was left in a corner to play with some blocks... but the foal was only exploring them with his hooves, since he couldn't see...

"He probably had some brain damage in the river... a rock in the head maybe. I'll give him a potion to be used on his eyes... I won't say this will be pleasant. Is a really strong potion and will sting a lot... but that will help him recover his vision... though it will not be the same, at least he will be able to see again." The doctor grabbed a bottle with a thick green liquid inside. "Apply this on him this night and put some bandages... leave the bandages on and after a week apply the rest of the potion and put the bandages on again for another week. Then you can bring him here for another examination."

"Is there another way?" Petal asked looking at the green liquid n the bottle. She didn't like the idea of hurting Monochrome.

"Sorry miss Petal... but is that, or he won't be able to see again." He said with a sight.

"We understand... thank you doctor..." Earthy said and the small family went home.

They arrived at home when was almost night… Petal made a quick dinner for them all and Earthy Touch went to clean the dishes. Monochrome was on the couple's bed now… Petal Wind taking off the bandages with her magic.

"I'll ask you to be strong dear… ok?" She said to Monochrome who simply nodded… he was informed that the medicine was going to sting, but neither of them knew how much. That's what worried them all.

She used her magic to bring up the bottle with the green potion… The foal opened his eyes and she dropped a quarter of the small bottle in each eye. Monochrome shut them tight and greeted his teeth… he tried to hold it but the pain was too much for his young body. His cries echoed through the night for long minutes.

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