The Tale Of Crystal Clear

23 years before present day. Location: Manehattan.

It was a dark and cold night. The city of Manehattan was silent, as if holding its breath in anticipation. Then, movement in the darkness. Two figures trotted down the empty road, stopping in front of a red brick building. Stepping into the light, two ponies became seeable. One was a Zebra mare, who was hugging a deep purple unicorn stallion. Their cutie marks could not be seen. The zebra looked back at the stallion, who nodded. She then walked up to the building, checking the plaque above the door. 'Manehattan Orphanage'. Wiping away a tear, she took a bundle from her back, placing it on the ground. The mare knocked on the door loudly, a whispered "Goodbye." given to the bundle. She retreated to her husband, and they vanished into the night.

The orphanage door opened, revealing a chestnut colored unicorn mare who, seeing no pony, started to close the door. "Waaah!" A cry pierced the silence. The mare looked down only to see a foal, wrapped up in a blanket, crying. The foal was a zebra, but with a white horn that of a unicorn pony's. The mare gasped. Then, a glint of silver caught her eye. Pulling out a silver necklace with a heart shaped ruby, she read the words engraved on it.

"Crystal Clear." Smiling, the chestnut pony picked up the squalling foal in her forelegs. The foal immediately quieted in the mare's embrace. Chuckling, the mare brought her inside and shut the door.

6 years later.......

A Zebricorn filly, only six years old, was sitting with a cross look on her bed. An old chestnut unicorn mare sat beside her. "Now Crystal, what did I tell you about throwing food at other foals?" She asked the filly.

"But Ms. Chestnut, Golden Ladle was making fun of me!" Crystal protested. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "He said I was weird and useless." Ms.Chestnut frowned.

"Don't you ever listen to that bully, Crystal. You're a special filly, unique, like a snowflake." She looked down to see Crystal fast asleep on her lap. Smiling at the sight of the peaceful filly, she tucked the Zebricorn in. Suddenly, she gave a small cry, clutching her chest. As the pain passed, she stumbled off to bed.

The next morning Crystal Clear woke up bright and early. She felt around the bed for Ms.Chestnut, who usually woke her up in the morning to guide her down to breakfast. Not hearing or feeling her, Crystal decided to try the spell Ms.Chestnut had been teaching her. "Okay. I can do this." Her face squinched up in absolute concentration as her horn started glowing with a white aura. Suddenly Crystal felt her senses (besides sight, of course.) become heightened until they were so powerful, Crystal saw an image appear in her mind, showing the large bedroom she shared with other foals. There was one thing missing- no matter where she looked, her sight was devoid of color. "Yess!" She celebrated quietly, then went to find Ms.Chestnut to tell her of her achievement.

Walking down the hallway, she soon came to her beloved mentor's room. She knocked on the door, and hearing no answer, went inside. Looking around, she soon identified the lump on her teacher's bed to be Ms.Chestnut. She quietly went over to the bed, and gently shook her. No answer or movement came from the mare. She shook harder. Nothing. "Ms.Chestnut? Wake up Miss Chestnut! Wake up!" Crystal became more panicked with every shake, every cry. Was she sick? Was she- "Oh no."

The answer loomed over her, and with tears streaming down her face, Crystal ran back to the bedroom. "Everypony! Every pony wake up!" She shouted to the sleepy foals. "There's something wrong with Ms.Chestnut! I think she's sick!" But Crystal knew her only friend was not sick. Deep in her heart, Crystal knew her only friend, her "mother"....was dead.

"Well if it isn't Crystal Smear." A snide voice spoke out. A golden colt walked up to her with a mean grin. "Crying for you DEAD mommy, you FREAK? You don't belong here- Ms. Chestnut died just to get away from YOU." Golden Ladle threw insult after insult at her, scoring deep wounds in her metaphorical skin. "Run away Zebra Freak- and don't come BACK!" Crystal, crying rivers now, obeyed. Grabbing her locket, her only possession, Crystal ran. Away from Golden Ladle. Away from Ms. Chestnut. Away from the orphanage. Crystal Clear ran.