A select group of ponies now sat in Princess Twilight's throne room, gathered around a podium. They chatted, drank the punch served, and wondered what would happen next.
These ponies were called because there was a national crisis in Equestria. Ponies all over the country were developing a magical condition. It was called Aura Manifestation. The 'bug' would insert itself into the select pony and drive into their systems, genetically enhancing them. This pony could potentially gain some sort of a 'superpower'. In this process, many died, some were nearly fatally injured, and a few made it out completely healthy. Approximately 27% of the equines lived to tell the tale, and the time of enhancement was terribly excruciating. The ones who completed the phase helthily were 62% unicorns, their physical magic usable to fend off sicknesses. The survivors of the plague were chosen to find a cure for the disease before Equestria was completely doomed to the chaos of the sickness, Aura Manifestation.
[Clarity's POV]
"My little ponies, we are gathered here today by Order of Celestia," the alicorn who spoke paused to let the weight of the situation sink in. I felt this was dramatic, but I kept my opinions to myself. Partially. I let out a soft huff, but no attention was drawn to me. The group of, what, twenty so ponies surrounded me, all colors and sizes inside the Princess's sparkly castle of doom. Really? Princess Twilight lives here? The thing really should have less coats of shine on it. It's as bright as Celestia's sun. I'm sure everyone who enters should be wearing sunglasses, or be blind. Nevertheless, Twilight Sparkle continued, saying, "As you know, everypony here has gone though Aura Manifestation, and resulted healthily; a task even Princess Luna could not conquer. Many ponies have died, even a close friend of mine. Ponies have suffered and been injured. We are here to find a cure! To heal those who are sick! To conquer this disease! Meanwhile, you all will be staying here for a few months to do your duty! To save Equestria!" She finished her prep speech on an inspirational prerogative. But I wasn't feeling so inspired. Why? because a pegasus across the room caught me rolling my eyes and gave me a dirty look. The only thing floating around in my head was, 'What close friend had died?' The Princess then stepped down from the podium, nodding softly. I decided to think about her words. Nope, no meaning to m- Wait. Stay in the Princess's castle for a few months? Might as well spoon my eyes out now before I go blind. Twilight was walking to another sparkly hallway. "Mares and Gentlecolts, follow me. We are going on a tour of the castle." Like the rest of my group, I trotted along. I have to admit something. I stole from the Princess. No, no, it wasn't like her element, or something! It was a moon shaped diamond decorating the wall that looked like Luna's cutiemark, so I was curious. I stuffed it into my saddlebags, ignoring the extra weight. I wasn't even caught by the guards! Hah, lame security. Anyway, my group arrived at this big open room (still smaller than the throne room), that Twilight called the 'Laboratory'. She also called it 'don't anyone touch, or breath on, anything'. I touched a thermometer, and the pegasus from before gave me another nasty look. "You shouldn't touch that." She growled, and I scoffed. "It's a thermometer. I doubt it's worth five billion bits. You act as if it is." I countered, poking it again with my hoof. She was now standing next to me, staring at my dark hoof. "I'll tell the Princess. She'll be annoyed." I actually laughed at this. "Ah, tell her like a schoolfilly at recess. Hon, it's a thermometer. It's fine. I'm Clarity. Clarity Skies." I hum in response, and she glances at me. She's way shorter then me, so she has to look up. "My name is Translucent Skies. Clarity? What sort of name is that?" She rose an eyebrow. "Better one then yours, I notice," I said, glaring at her. My ears perk up at an important-sounding voice. Princess Twilight is talking again. My hoof leaves its place and goes back to walking. We take a stop the library after, and then the gym. The gym looked like it's used by only a few ponies. I doubt Twilight visits it, by the look of her body. Nope, but I have seen the Apple Clan ponies. Great figures. Especially that Macintosh fella. 'Eeyup', quoting him. We then traveled to our guest beds. Each mini group of four ponies bed in each room, Twilight had explained (it was actually way more complex of a sentence, so I paraphrased so your puny human mind could understand). Everypony crowded around the list Twilight Sparkle put up, at the entrance to the hall, not far from my room; room 1. I studied my group. 'Clarity Skies, Flare Flicker, Wren, and.... Ugh, Translucent Skies.' I thought to my self, letting out a groan that happened to leave my mouth the second somepony else did. I glanced over, my turquoise gaze meeting, the one and only, Translucent Skies's. The pegasus tossed her mane mockingly in my face. My ears flattened, and I wrinkled my nose. As I walk away, I glance over my shoulder once, and catch the soft eyes of an Earth Pony stallion, and we fall in love at first- only kidding. I looked over my shoulder and noticed a dainty white Unicorn with a wren cutiemark. "Wren?" I called, unsure of myself. The unicorn was startled, and looked over at me embarrassedly. "Oh, h-hi. You must be.. Translucent Skies!" She smiled at me, unknowingly naming me my future arch nemesis' name. "No, I'm Clarity Skies. Wanna walk with me to our room?" She nodded warmly and was literally next to me in a flash. "Woah!" I tumbled backward, landing on my rump. "S-sorry. My teleportation skill are rusty, so my teacher asked I practice them when ever I can. Sorry." Wren explained. Her hoof extended to help me up, an I gladly took it. "Thanks." I hum, lighting my horn. "I'm pretty good at teleportation." Wren squeaked as I teleported her to our room. As the spell died down, I glanced around our room. It was painted like the daytime; a bright sun shining above, little daisies on the walls, a tall mountain. It was horrid. Well, if they want daytime on their side, they can have daytime. But not on my side of the room! I conjured up some paint buckets, a brush, and a rolling brush, and got to work. Translucent Skies was busy on her iPhone, headphones in, tuning everypony out. I giggled slyly as Wren watched me with wide eyes. "What are you doing?" She asked sweetly. I smirked. "Painting night." Translucent looked up from her phone, and gasped. She ripped off her headphones, actually growling. "Hey! What the hay do you think you're doing!" Wren flattened her ears. "U-um.. I.. I'm sorry!" She stammered, and I could seem to let my friend burst into tears. "Painting, you looser." I retorted, and Translucent flared her wings. "I already did!" She said. I couldn't believe she thought I liked that crappy room! "Well, this is MY corner, hon, so please keep your taste to yourself." I snapped, painting over Translucent's mountain. Wren slunk into her corned, whimpering as she helped me paint. I felt bad for dragging her into the mess, but Translucent's annoyance kept me going. After about an hour, Wren and I finished. "Wren? You are awesome at this. Great job!" I smiled, noticing Translucent's angered face. "Let's set up," I hummed at the other unicorn, and she walked next to me as we exited the room. We trotted to the gathering room just outside our hall, and picked out our stuff. I had a simple few bags, filled with junk I probably didn't need, but Wren must've preferred to travel light. Her dainty body supported a pair of saddlebags, decorated with feathers. She also levitated a hoof bag that made me quite jelly.
