For as long as I can remember weird coincidences have happened around me. For example, the wind always seemed to pick up when I was angry. I thought this was completely normal. Until elementary school, when I learned about the Nova. They're the telekinetic telepathic shapeshifters that form the nobility of Celestia and functionally rule the country since no one nut the Nova ever sees our King and Queen. Being Nova is such a recessive gene that Nova are very rarely born to non Nova parents, so when someone shows signs of powers they're trained in the palace. The teacher then asked anyone who had ever exhibited something like these powers to raise their hand. My best friend did so eagerly and immediately. I should have too. After all, the palace was an amazing place filled with amazing opportunities. I didn't know what was stopping me, but I didn't raise my hand.
When I got home that day my parents said it was for the best. It's not like I'd be very good living by myself after all, especially with my condition. Turner Syndrome occurs when someone who is supposed to have 2 X chromosomes only has one or one is fragmented. In mosaic Turner Syndrome, some cells have the correct amount of chromosomes, some have part of the missing X and some are completely undamaged. Symptoms vary from person to person, but mosaic Turner Syndrome usually has the mildest ones. I'm lucky enough to not have heart or kidney problems (although my heart and kidneys will always have to be monitored) or any academic problems beyond difficulties with graphs and having trouble with tasks that don't have specific directions, however I have the classic social issues that come with autism that many people with Turner Syndrome also have. All of that means I need a lot of instructions and practice in order to eventually live on my own.
Anyway, my friend was deemed fit to go to the palace, but when she came back for holidays she was different. She looked the same and spoke the same (if a little more polished in both regards) but she seemed to almost…look down on me. She found little ways to brag about everything and it really grated on me. For example, she randomly brought up how she knew more languages than I do. I was confused and frustrated because this one-uppery was the last thing I would expect her to do. She was the kindest person I knew after all. Eventually we completely lost contact with each other.
I've always felt like there was more to that situation than meets the eye. You might think that I'm just refusing to accept the loss of a friend. The problem with that logic is that I've lost many friends since. Well, people I thought were my friends.
Whatever's happening in the palace, the best way to find out is to see it myself. I doubt anyone will see the flickering lights as a coincidence. Now that people have seen my powers, there's no going back.
Argentum's hand on my shoulder jolts me back to the present. "You ok, Aurum? I've never seen you space out that badly. You were completely unresponsive."
I squeeze my eyes shut in an attempt to clear my mind. "I'm fine," I reply. Argentum doesn't seem convinced. We're two sides of the same coin after all. Silver and Gold. Inseparable.