Rainbow Dash Comes to Stay
The shrill blare of the alarm clock cut through the tiny apartment, jolting Daniel awake. Groaning, he fumbled blindly for the snooze button, knocking over a stack of medical textbooks in the process. The alarm continued its relentless beeping until he finally managed to silence it with a clumsy slap.
It was 5:00 AM on a dreary, cold March morning. Rain pelted the window, mocking Daniel’s desperate desire to stay in bed. He lay there for a moment, cocooned in his blankets, contemplating the possibility of calling in sick. "Would they even notice if I didn’t show up?" he wondered. "Probably not," he concluded, but he knew better. General surgery rotations were unforgiving.
With a sigh from deep within, Daniel dragged himself out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom. He flicked on the light, squinting against the harsh brightness, and stared at his reflection in the mirror. Dark circles under his eyes, stubble from days without shaving, and an expression of perpetual exhaustion greeted him.
“Good morning, handsome,” he muttered to himself, trying and failing to muster a smile. “Another day, another chance to be mediocre.”
He grabbed his toothbrush and began brushing his teeth, his mind drifting back to his last rotation. The OBGYN attending had rated him poorly for failing to identify the arcuate line on a CT scan that looked like it had been taken with a potato. "Sorry, doc, I left my magic eyesight at home," he had wanted to say. Instead, he had nodded and accepted the criticism with a forced smile.
Spitting out the toothpaste, Daniel turned on the shower, waiting for the water to warm up. As he undressed and stepped under the spray, he let the hot water wash away some of his fatigue. He closed his eyes and allowed his mind to wander to a happier place—a place where rainbows and magic were real, and where he had a best friend who just happened to be a blue, winged pony with a technicolor mane.
“Morning, Rainbow Dash,” he said softly, smiling at the thought.
“Hey there, sleepyhead!” came a cheerful, imaginary voice. “Ready to tackle the day?”
Daniel chuckled. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Got another thrilling day of cutting people open and trying not to pass out.”
“Pfft, you’ve got this! You’re like, the most awesome human I know!” Rainbow Dash replied. “And trust me, I know awesome.”
“Yeah, well, I’m the only human you know,” Daniel pointed out, rinsing the shampoo from his hair.
“Details, details,” Rainbow Dash said dismissively. “So, what’s on the agenda today? More surgery stuff?”
“Yep. Surgery, surgery, and more surgery,” Daniel said, turning off the shower and stepping out. “I get to drive forty minutes in the rain to spend twelve hours on my feet, pretending I know what I’m doing.”
“Sounds like a blast,” Rainbow Dash said sarcastically. “But hey, at least you’re not alone. You’ve got me, remember?”
“Yeah, I know,” Daniel said, wrapping a towel around his waist and heading back to his room. “Thanks for that, by the way. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Probably sleep more,” Rainbow Dash quipped.
Daniel laughed, a genuine, warm sound that echoed through the small apartment. “Yeah, probably. But where’s the fun in that?”
He dressed quickly, donning his scrubs and a thick hoodie to ward off the cold. He grabbed his backpack, making sure he had everything he needed for the day: stethoscope, notebook, pens, a slightly squished granola bar for breakfast, and his lucky charm—a small, plush Rainbow Dash keychain that he kept tucked in his pocket. It was a little silly, but it made him feel better, like she was there with him, cheering him on.
“Ready to go?” Rainbow Dash asked, her imaginary voice filled with enthusiasm.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Daniel replied, slipping on his raincoat and heading for the door. “Let’s get this over with.”
The rain was relentless, a steady downpour that turned the streets into rivers and soaked Daniel to the bone within seconds. He fumbled with his keys, unlocking his beat-up old car and sliding into the driver’s seat. The engine sputtered to life, and Daniel cranked up the heat, hoping to stave off the chill.
“So, any big plans for the weekend?” Rainbow Dash asked as he pulled out of the parking lot and began the long, soggy drive to the hospital.
“Sleep,” Daniel said immediately. “And maybe some Netflix. If I’m feeling adventurous, I might even order pizza.”
“Ooh, living on the edge!” Rainbow Dash teased. “You’re such a wild man, Daniel.”
“Hey, you know me. Always pushing the limits,” Daniel replied with a grin.
The drive was slow and tedious, the rain making visibility poor and the roads slick. Daniel’s mind drifted as he navigated the familiar route, his thoughts bouncing between his upcoming shift and his imaginary conversations with Rainbow Dash.
“Do you ever wish you could just… fly away?” he asked suddenly, the question catching even him by surprise.
“Like, literally fly away?” Rainbow Dash asked, sounding intrigued. “Or just, you know, escape from all this?”
“Both, I guess,” Daniel said. “I mean, you get to fly around, see new places, have adventures. Must be nice.”
“It is pretty awesome,” Rainbow Dash admitted. “But you know what? You’re kind of a hero, too. I mean, you’re helping people, saving lives. That’s pretty amazing if you ask me.”
“Yeah, I suppose,” Daniel said, though he didn’t sound entirely convinced. “It just doesn’t feel like it sometimes. Most days, I’m just trying to survive.”
“And you’re doing a great job of it,” Rainbow Dash said firmly. “Besides, you’ve got me in your corner. We make a pretty awesome team, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, we do,” Daniel agreed, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Thanks, Dash. You always know how to make me feel better.”
“Anytime, buddy. Anytime.”
The rest of the drive passed in a blur of rain and headlights. By the time Daniel pulled into the hospital parking lot, he felt a little better, a little more ready to face the day. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the hours ahead, and stepped out of the car.
“Here we go,” he said softly, looking up at the imposing structure of the hospital. “Another day, another adventure.”
“And I’ll be right there with you,” Rainbow Dash said. “Let’s do this.”
With a final nod, Daniel squared his shoulders and headed inside.
Daniel's day had been the usual whirlwind of chaos, scalpel flashes, and endless rounds. By the time he managed to sign out of the hospital and drag himself back home, it was well past dinnertime. The rain had finally stopped, leaving the city shrouded in a damp, foggy gloom. He trudged up the steps to his apartment, each one feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds.
The key turned in the lock with a familiar, comforting click, and Daniel pushed the door open. He stepped inside, ready to collapse into his bed and sleep for a century. But what he saw made him freeze in his tracks, his brain scrambling to process the sight before him.
Standing in the middle of his living room, in all her technicolor glory, was Rainbow Dash.
Daniel blinked. Then blinked again, harder this time. Still, Rainbow Dash stood there, her wings slightly flared, her magenta eyes wide with excitement.
“Hey, there!” she said, her voice exactly as he had imagined it so many times. “Miss me?”
“Uh,” Daniel managed, his brain short-circuiting. He dropped his bag, running a hand through his hair. “I—um—what? Are you real? Did I finally lose it?”
Rainbow Dash laughed, a sound like wind chimes in a summer breeze. “Yep, I’m real. As real as you are. Surprise!”
Daniel pinched himself hard. Nope, definitely not dreaming. He stepped closer, half-expecting her to vanish like a mirage. But she didn’t. She was as solid and real as the furniture in his apartment.
“Okay, I have so many questions,” he said, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief. “How did you get here? Why are you here? Am I dead? Is this heaven?”
“One question at a time, buddy,” Rainbow Dash said, flapping her wings slightly. “First, I have no idea how I got here. One minute, I was napping in Ponyville, and the next, poof! Here I am. As for why... maybe because you needed a friend?”
Daniel laughed, a tired, slightly hysterical sound. “Yeah, I do. But this—this is insane. Like, scientifically impossible.”
“Hey, impossible is my middle name,” Rainbow Dash said, striking a dramatic pose. “Actually, it’s not, but you get the idea.”
Daniel shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around the situation. It was almost too surreal for him to easily comprehend or accept. “So, you just... appeared here? Out of nowhere?”
“Pretty much,” Rainbow Dash confirmed. “One minute, I was dreaming about winning the Best Young Flyer competition for the millionth time, and the next, I’m in your apartment.”
“Okay, follow-up question: What did you eat before bed?” Daniel asked, trying to find some logical explanation. “Maybe this is a food-induced hallucination. Did you have some strange hayburger or... I don’t know, enchanted apples?”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Hayburger? Really? And no, nothing weird. Just your average pre-nap snack.”
Daniel rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. “This is nuts. But, I mean, you’re here. You’re actually here.”
Rainbow Dash smiled, a wide, genuine grin. “Yep! And I gotta say, you look even more tired in person.”
“Thanks for the ego boost,” Daniel said dryly. “It’s been a long day.”
Rainbow Dash’s expression softened. “I know, buddy. I’ve been watching you work hard every day. You’re doing great.”
“Thanks,” Daniel said, his voice a bit choked. “It means a lot. But seriously, what am I supposed to do with a talking pony in my apartment?”
“Hey, I’m not just any talking pony. I’m Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in Equestria!” she declared proudly. “And I don’t know, maybe we can figure this out together?”
Daniel nodded slowly. “Yeah, I guess we can. But first, I need to sit down before my legs give out.”
He stumbled over to the couch and collapsed onto it, feeling the weight of the day—and the sheer absurdity of the situation—settling on his shoulders. Rainbow Dash hopped up beside him, her wings fluttering slightly as she made herself comfortable.
“So, what now?” Daniel asked, still feeling like he was in some sort of bizarre dream.
“Now,” Rainbow Dash said, leaning back and crossing her forelegs behind her head, “we relax. And then, we figure out what’s going on. Together.”
“Together,” Daniel echoed, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, I like the sound of that.”
They sat there in companionable silence for a moment, the reality of the situation slowly sinking in. It was crazy, impossible, and downright magical. But for the first time in a long while, Daniel felt a spark of excitement, a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, things were looking up.
“So,” he said after a while, turning to look at Rainbow Dash, “what’s it like in Ponyville?”
Rainbow Dash’s eyes lit up, and she launched into a vivid, animated description of her home, her friends, and all the adventures they had. Daniel listened, his exhaustion fading away as he got lost in her stories. It was like a breath of fresh air, a much-needed escape from the grind of his everyday life.
“And then there was the time we had to save Equestria from King Sombra,” Rainbow Dash was saying, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “That was intense. But we totally kicked his flank.”
“Sounds like you’ve had quite the life,” Daniel said, feeling a twinge of envy. “I wish I could visit sometime.”
“Hey, who knows?” Rainbow Dash said, nudging him with her hoof. “Anything’s possible, right?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Daniel said, his mind whirling with possibilities. “But for now, I think I’m just happy you’re here.”
“Me too, Daniel. Me too,” Rainbow Dash said, her voice softening. “We’re going to figure this out. And in the meantime, we’ll make the best of it.”
The next morning came far too quickly for Daniel’s liking. The alarm clock blared its obnoxious wake-up call, and he groaned, feeling every bit of exhaustion from the previous day. He slapped the alarm off and dragged himself out of bed, barely registering his surroundings.
He stumbled into the living room and froze. There on the couch, curled up in a way that looked impossibly adorable, was Rainbow Dash. She was snoring softly, her wings twitching now and then, like she was dreaming of flying.
Daniel smiled despite himself. “Guess even ponies need their beauty sleep,” he whispered under his breath.
He tiptoed around her, careful not to make any noise. He grabbed his scrubs, made a quick pit stop in the bathroom to freshen up, and then headed to the kitchen to grab a bite. As he poured himself a bowl of cereal, he glanced over at Rainbow Dash, still sound asleep.
“Don’t suppose you want breakfast?” he murmured, half to himself. “Nah, you’d probably want something more... pony-like. Hay pancakes, maybe?”
He shook his head, chuckling quietly, and quickly finished his breakfast. As he headed out the door, he took one last look at Rainbow Dash. Part of him still couldn’t believe she was real. It was like living in a dream.
He locked the door behind him and made his way to the car, bracing himself for another long, grueling day at the hospital.
The hours crawled by with the lethargy of a snail stuck in molasses. Surgeries, rounds, consultations—each task blended into the next, leaving Daniel with barely any time to catch his breath. He tried to focus, but his mind kept drifting back to the technicolor pony snoozing on his couch. What was she doing? Was she okay? Did she find something to eat?
Lunch came and went without much fanfare. Daniel wolfed down a sandwich while poring over patient charts, his thoughts only half on his work. The day dragged on, each hour feeling longer than the last. By the time he finally clocked out, he felt like he had aged a decade.
The drive home was a nightmare. Traffic was a tangled mess of brake lights and honking horns. Daniel drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, trying to keep his eyes open. Every minute inched by, and he found himself wishing for a pair of wings to fly over the congestion and get home.
When he finally pulled into his apartment complex, it was late evening. He parked the car and trudged up the stairs, each step feeling like a mountain climb. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, expecting the usual quiet apartment.
Instead, he was greeted by a blur of blue and rainbow.
“Daniel!” Rainbow Dash cried, launching herself at him. “You’re home!”
“Whoa!” Daniel stumbled back, barely catching himself. He returned the hug, a smile spreading across his face despite his exhaustion. “Hey, Dash. Miss me?”
“Of course!” Rainbow Dash said, pulling back to look at him. “I was so bored! I didn’t know what to do with myself all day.”
Daniel chuckled, ruffling her mane. “I can imagine. Sorry, work was brutal today. And the traffic—don’t get me started.”
Rainbow Dash pouted. “Yeah, well, I didn’t know how to unlock the door to get out. So, I kinda... made a mess.”
Daniel’s eyes widened. “A mess?”
Rainbow Dash grinned sheepishly. “Yeah, I got bored and... let’s just say, your apartment might need a bit of tidying up.”
Daniel groaned inwardly but managed a smile. “Alright, show me the damage.”
Rainbow Dash led him inside, and Daniel’s jaw dropped. The living room looked like a tornado had passed through. Cushions were strewn everywhere, books scattered across the floor, and what looked like a makeshift fort made of blankets in one corner.
“Uh, wow,” Daniel said, scratching his head. “You really went all out.”
Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof. “I tried reading some of your books, but they were all, like, super boring. And then I found the blankets and thought, ‘Hey, why not build a fort?’”
Daniel couldn’t help but laugh. “A fort, huh? I haven’t built one of those since I was a kid.”
“Yeah, it was pretty fun. But then I got bored again and tried to find something else to do.” Rainbow Dash’s ears drooped. “It was really lonely without you here, Daniel.”
Daniel’s heart softened at the sight of her dejected expression. He knelt down and pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry, Dash. I didn’t think about how boring it would be for you. But hey, we’ll figure something out.”
Rainbow Dash brightened. “Really?”
“Really,” Daniel said, smiling. “Maybe we can find some things for you to do during the day. Or, you know, you could come to the hospital with me and be my personal cheerleader.”
Rainbow Dash’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that would be so awesome! I could totally help out and make your day 20% cooler.”
Daniel chuckled. “I bet you could. I mean, I’ll have to see if that’s even practical…on second thought, I doubt it is, but we’ll see. But for now, let’s clean up this mess, okay?”
Rainbow Dash nodded eagerly. “You got it!”
They spent the next hour tidying up the apartment. Rainbow Dash zoomed around, putting things back in place with surprising speed and efficiency. Daniel couldn’t help but marvel at her energy.
“You know,” he said as he picked up a cushion, “I could use some of that energy on my shifts.”
Rainbow Dash smirked. “Well, I am the fastest pony in Equestria. Speed and efficiency are my middle names.”
Daniel laughed. “I thought impossible was your middle name?”
Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I have a lot of middle names.”
As they finished up, Daniel looked around the now-neat apartment and felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. Despite the craziness of the past couple of days, having Rainbow Dash here was... kind of amazing. She brought a spark of life and color to his otherwise dull routine.
“Thanks for helping me clean up,” he said, giving her a pat on the back.
“No problem!” Rainbow Dash said, puffing out her chest proudly. “I’m always here to help.”
Daniel yawned, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up with him. “I think I’m going to crash. It’s been a long day.”
Rainbow Dash nodded. “Yeah, you look like you could use some serious shut-eye. Get some rest, Daniel. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Daniel smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest that he hadn’t felt in a long time. “Thanks, Dash. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight!” Rainbow Dash called as he headed to his bedroom.
Daniel collapsed onto his bed, barely having the energy to pull the covers over himself. As he drifted off to sleep, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement for what tomorrow might bring. With Rainbow Dash around, life was definitely going to be…interesting.
Once again, the morning came all too soon, and the relentless alarm clock yanked Daniel from his slumber. He groaned, his body protesting as he rolled out of bed. The memory of the previous day rushed back, and he couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t every day you found a magical pony in your living room.
In what was becoming a pattern, he tiptoed out of his bedroom, peeking into the living room. Rainbow Dash was sprawled out on the couch, snoring softly. Daniel chuckled softly, not wanting to wake her. He quickly got ready, grabbed a quick breakfast, and slipped out the door as quietly as possible.
The day at the hospital was as grueling as ever. Daniel went through the motions, his mind half-focused on his work and half-drifting to thoughts of Rainbow Dash. He wondered what she was doing, if she was still bored, if she had made another mess. The thought made him smile, despite the fatigue that weighed him down.
Lunch came and went in a blur of patient notes, paperwork, and hurried bites of food. Daniel barely had time to breathe, let alone think. As the hours dragged on, he found himself counting down the minutes until he could go home.
The drive home was another nightmare. Traffic was even worse than the previous day, if that was even possible. They said it was a backup on the tollway.
“Isn’t this why I pay the toll? To avoid traffic?” Daniel said to himself as he gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white, as he navigated through the sea of cars. By the time he finally pulled into his apartment complex, he was beyond exhausted.
He trudged up the stairs, each step feeling like a Herculean effort. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, bracing himself for whatever awaited him.
“Daniel!” Rainbow Dash’s voice rang out, filled with excitement.
He barely had time to react before she was hugging him, her wings flapping with joy. Daniel laughed, returning the hug despite his fatigue.
“Hey, Dash,” he said, ruffling her mane. “Miss me again?”
“Of course!” Rainbow Dash said, pulling back to look at him. “I was so bored without you. I tried to find something to do, but I couldn’t unlock the door, so I ended up making another mess.”
Daniel sighed, a mix of exasperation and amusement. “Another mess?”
Rainbow Dash grinned sheepishly. “Yeah. I tried to clean it up, though! But, uh, I might’ve made things worse.”
Daniel chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, show me what it is this time.”
Rainbow Dash led him inside, and Daniel’s eyes widened at the sight. The living room was once again a disaster zone, but this time, it was even worse. Blankets were tangled in a heap, cushions scattered everywhere, and somehow, a pot of spaghetti had ended up on the ceiling.
“Wow,” Daniel said, scratching his head. “You really outdid yourself this time.”
Rainbow Dash looked down ashamed. “Yeah, sorry about that. I just... I didn’t know what else to do.”
Daniel couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s alright, Dash. We’ll clean it up. Again.”
They set to work, cleaning up the mess. Rainbow Dash zipped around, her energy overflowing, even at this late hour, while Daniel moved more slowly, his exhaustion catching up with him. Despite the chaos, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. Having Rainbow Dash around, even with the messes she made, brought a spark of joy to his otherwise monotonous life.
As they finished cleaning up, Daniel collapsed onto the couch, feeling utterly spent. Rainbow Dash joined him, sitting beside him with a satisfied grin.
“Thanks for helping me clean up,” he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
“No problem!” Rainbow Dash said, nudging him playfully. “That’s what friends are for, right?”
Daniel smiled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. “Yeah, you’re right. You caused this after all.”
They sat in companionable silence for a moment, the events of the day catching up with both of them. Daniel’s eyelids grew heavy, and he yawned, barely able to keep his eyes open.
“You look exhausted,” Rainbow Dash said, her voice softening. “Get some rest, Daniel. You deserve it.”
Daniel nodded, too tired to argue. “Yeah, I think I will. Goodnight, Dash.”
“Goodnight,” Rainbow Dash replied, her voice filled with warmth. “Sweet dreams.”
As Daniel drifted off to sleep, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he had something to look forward to.
He didn't need anything else in life. All he wanted was for Rainbow Dash to stay forever.