Tenna

Chapters

Tenna the Changeling
Roads that Cross
All Your Hopes
Needing to Forget...
...Wanting to Remember
Breakfast Blues
Checkup Time!
Should've Added More Stamps
One Choice
Of Nightmares and Dreams
Pathways into Darkness

Tenna the Changeling

Tenna sighed, glancing at the sky. She’d been walking on this trail for a while, and it didn’t seem to have an end, and the mountain in the distance wasn’t getting closer.

At all.

She didn’t know where she came from, nor who she was. All she knew was her name and some basic stuff about herself. Her name, how old she was, and how to blend in.

She was very good at blending in. Very good.

For you see, Tenna wasn’t exactly a pony. She was more of a...

Changeling.

Enter the Changeling

A FIMfiction FanFiction

By Listener

Tenna belongs to Chessboard_Jack

Tenna kicked a hoof at the ground, watching the rocks she disturbed with mild interest. One went of the side of the road, while the others flew into the air and landed before skidding a few more inches.

“Why is it taking so long!” She said aloud, trying to alleviate the stiffening silence of path she was on. She was going to Canterlot to see if Celestia could help. Whether through her memories, or by getting the other ponies to accept her for who she was, and not a copy.

Tenna looked at herself, stopping for a moment to rest. She was currently a grey pegasus, with a cerulean mane, which kept getting in the way of her eyes, despite the attempt of her magenta clip. Her temporary cutie-mark was a dark cloud, rain coming from it down her quarters. She smiled. Even if she couldn’t be herself completely, she could still be original.

Tossing her mane out of her eyes, she giggles to herself at the action. She started moving down the path again, eyes glancing over the landscape. It was the same thing everywhere she looked. Hills, trees, and rocks. To the sky there were some birds flying slowly to where ever they were going. It was the same thing ever since she had left the small settlement on the outskirts of Equestria. Tilting her head, she tried to recall what it had been named. Appleloosa, she thinks it was called.

Tenna shook her head in wonder. It was a creative name, she’ll give them that, but it was also so weird. Ponies were weird, she had come to learn over the time she had been traveling. Weird, but nice. As long as they believed that she was another pony, they treated her with respect, even going out of their way to help her.

But if they saw her as she was really was, they ran, thinking her a monster. Tenna’s good mood darkened a little at the thought of what she had been called.

Monster...

Thing...

Creature

She tried to push the thought from her head, ears against her head for a moment before sticking back up. Something had landed on her face! Nose twitching, she yelped while trying to back up. It wasn’t coming off! Shaking her head and blowing up at it, it fluttered its wings at it.

Still backing up, she stumbled and fell into a sitting position, the strange creature still on her face. Blinking, she noticed something. She wasn’t feeling any pain... In fact, it sorta... tickled!

Laughing, she smiled. What was this wonderful thing? She hadn’t seen anything like this before. Well, not that she could remember, anyway. It did tickle, her nose twitching like crazy. Wrinkling her nose...

“Achoo!”

The strange creature flew off of her nose, flitter along it’s way. Tenna laughed, chasing it along the path, not paying attention to where she was going. After some time had passed, she had lost sight of the creature, she looked back at where she was going.

She had just came to a top of one of the larger hills, and over the crest she could see a town.

Tenna smiled. Maybe she could find some food and a place to stay the night.

Finding her footing down the mountain, she was focused on where she was stepping so she wouldn’t fall down, she didn’t quite see the green streak that came plowing towards her.

“Almost... there...” She said, sticking out a hoof to place it safely on level ground. For a trail used fairly often, it was sure steep, especially this close to a town.

“Watch out!”

Tenna whipped her head up, her hoof still slightly off the ground. She could barely see a pegasus before she was slammed into, surprise going through her body. Suddenly she was in a mess of limbs, light green contrasting with her own black.

“Oof!” Tenna squealed, surprised at the sudden impact.

“Ow... Ouch, that hurt.” Said the green pegasus, disentangling himself from Tenna quickly. “Are you okay Miss? I’m sorry, i didn’t see you there. It was like one moment you’re not there, and the next, you are! I’m really, really- Oh. Wait. Your coat is awesome lady!”

Tenna felt herself go cold, paralyzed with fear. She was looking at her foreleg, which, instead of the grey color it was, now showed her true color, and the holes to go with it. The surprise must’ve shocked her out of her disguise.

Fear or discovery turned to fear of ridicule. Turning, she tried to run away from the pony, only to find him right in front of her. His were flapping slightly, his hooves slightly dragging on the ground.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a coat quite like that! All black and shiny like that. How’d you get it that way?”

Tenna let out a small “Eep!”, stepping backwards, hoof raised in midair. She tilted her head in such a way that her face was partially hidden behind her mane.

The pegasus had stopped flying, landing lightly on his hooves. Beaming brightly at Tenna, he introduced himself.

“I’m Tech!” He said, stepping forward a step. “What’s your name?”

Tenna peeked out from her under her mane, confused. He hadn’t run, nor had he called her any names... yet.

“I-I’m Tenna.”

If it was even possible, Tech’s smile go bigger smile on his face.

“Hello then Tenna! It’s nice to meet you. You here for the Summer Sun Celebration?”

Tenna just looked at Tech, slowly coming out from under the protection of her mane.

“The Summer Sun Celebration? What’s that?” She asked, confused. She knew that they had holidays, but she didn’t remember that one.

A shocked look comes over his face.

“You don’t know!? Only the biggest celebration in all of Equestria! This year it’s going to be held in Ponyville!” Tech said, gesturing behind Tenna.

Tenna, despite herself groaned inwardly, as Tech continued to explain the event to her. Tenna zoned him out, thinking to herself.

‘He hasn’t run, even with me like this. Maybe the ponies in this town are more friendly than the others I’ve come across. Maybe I could just be me?’

She would’ve argued that point with herself, but she had caught part of Tech’s last sentence. “-with Celestia and everything!”

Tenna shook her head to clear the last of her stray thoughts.

“Wh-what?”

Tech backed up, repeating himself.

“Since we’re hosting the celebration this year, we’re going to have a huge presentation for the raising of the sun, with Celestia and everything!”

Tenna looked at the town, gaping. In a single instant it had gone from an obstacle that she wanted to get past as quickly as possible, but to a place that had hope.

Glancing up at the city on the mountain, she also heaved a sigh of relief. Her trek had become this much easier.

Grinning shyly at the pegasus, she asked a question.

“When is it?”

Tech doesn’t even think about it.

“Tomorrow.”

Tenna smiled.

“That’s perfect. Um... quick question.” Tenna said, hiding behind her mane again.

“Yeah? What?” Tech asked, getting up and heading back to town while looking behind him at his new friend.

“Will... Will the others accept me?” She asked, her voice getting smaller towards the end.

Tech smiles.

“I don’t see why not!”

Tenna smiles slightly, and heads after the green pony into Ponyville.

Author's Note

First off, huge thanks to Chessboard_Jack for letting me use Tenna, and effectively write her back story. Here's hoping I don't screw up... too badly. :P

And thanks to whoever helped me in whatever way, whether or not they knew it.

See ya star side, I got BoBs to kill.

Roads that Cross

Tenna

Chapter One: Roads the Cross

Written by: Listener

Pre-read by Chessboard_Jack and Bronymastermind17

Tech laughed, gliding through the air on his wings and flipping, trying to impress Tenna. Noticing that he wasn’t getting any reaction, he slowly glided down to the changeling and landed softly next to her.

“So... why do you look like that, anyway?”

Tenna started, not noticing him until he had spoken. “I-I’m sorry, what? I was... distracted...”

“Why do you look like that?” Tech asked obliviously.

“Oh... uh... I-I...” Tenna stuttered, unsure how to answer such the straightforward question.

“Well, however you got it that way, it’s super cool.” Tech said, smiling.

“I... I was born this way... I’m... not...” Tenna said, trailing off at the end, trying to make herself small.

Tech notices her discomfort, and backs off slightly. “Hey, if you don’t want to talk about it, it’s fine.”

Tenna manages a nod, before slowly moving again towards town, which was steadily becoming bigger in her sight, but it was still a fair way off in the distance.

Tech tried again to start a conversation with Tenna.

“So... Where are you from?” He asked, curiously.

Tenna opened her mouth to respond, but the closed it without answering. In truth, she didn’t know where she was from. She shook her head, giving Tech a sad smile.

“I-I don’t know, actually...”

Tech glanced over, concern mixing with his curiousness on his face.

“You don’t know?”

Tenna looked down, looking at her hooves.

“Y-yeah. I-I just sorta... woke up.”

Tech looked over, debating what do. He knew that it would be weird to give her a hug, but Tenna did look like she needed some comfort. He just ended up giving Tenna a sort of side hug.

Tenna started at the physical of contact, unused to it after about a week of not having any at all.

After a moment, Tech leaned away.

“Well, wherever you’re from, or whatever you are, you’re fun to be around! That’s for sure.”

Tenna looked over at Tech, nervously giving him a sideways smile, her mane falling in place and blocking some of face from view. She started to use her hooves in a distracted way. A nervous tick for her. Tapping them softly together, she made a sort of quiet clopping sound.

Peering out from her mini shield, she could see a look of wonder on Tech’s face.

“You’re flying!”

Tenna looked down. She was indeed flying in the air, a few inches off the ground. She gently landed on her hooves again.

Tech continued. “You have wings and a horn? But that makes you an...” Tech gasps.

“An alicorn!”

Tenna lets out a little sigh.

“Tech, I’m not an alicorn.”

“But you have wings and a horn!”

“Tech. I-I am not an alicorn. Trust me on that.”

Tech let out a sigh. “Fine. But if you aren’t an alicorn, then what are you?”

Tech’s smile left when he realized he had just repeated a question that he knew Tenna didn’t want to answer. He quickly backtracked.

“I mean, okay, you aren’t an alicorn. I can accept that-.”

“Tech.”

“-It’s just that, well, you know, the only two ponies that have both a wing and a horn are-”

“Tech” Tenna said, a little bit louder.

“-Celestia and Candence, but really, they are the princess’s-”

“Tech!” Tenna said, raising her voice slightly to try to get his attention.

Tech stopped and looked over. “Yeah?”

“C-can we just drop this?

Tech nods, falling back into silence, the pair enjoying a comfortable silence until they reached the outskirts of Ponyville. Tenna felt her panic rising as they got closer and closer, seeing the movement of ponies inside, until she got to where she could see their activities inside the town. The adults working at putting up decorations, some other adults working in stalls, and the children playing in the streets, having fun.

Tenna swallowed hard, fighting the rising panic. The urge to change into her other was huge, but with a reassuring look from Tech, she moved on, following the pegasus, who was doing a strange mixture of walking and gliding slightly above the ground. He kept that strange gait up until the town limits, where he simply started walking.

Tech smiled as they entered the town, the sight of his home town being transformed into a place of celebration. Looking behind him, he sees Tenna gingerly stepping into the town limits, several paces behind him. Sighing again, he turns around and hop-glides over to her side.

“Tenna, you're soo slow!” Tech whined, teasingly leaning into her to push her slightly off balance.

“He-hey!” Tenna yelped, surprised at the unexpected push, stumbling over. Quickly regaining her balance with some fancy footwork, she threw a glare at Tech. “What was that for?” She asked, slightly angry.

Tech's wide grin disappeared under Tenna's glare. “What? I'm just teasing you. I didn't mean anything by it.” He said, holding up his hooves to defend himself against Tenna's stare.

Tenna's mind processed this, her glare slowly dissolving as she figured out what he meant. “Oh... Sorry...” She said meekly.

The pegasus's grin came back. “What's there to be sorry for? Besides, friends forgive friends, right? Now come on then!”

With those words he ran off into the town, leaving Tenna standing there as her mind reeled with what Tech had said.

'Friends forgive friends'

Tech already considered her a friend? He had only known her for less than half an hour... And he didn't even know her that well...

Could he really be that accepting? He had already accepted her as herself, which was more than anyone else had.

She was shaken from her thoughts by a face suddenly appearing in front of her, upside down. Letting out a small gasp, she backed up, only to see a pegasus that was growing more and more familiar with every moment.

“Ten-na! Come on!” Tech said, rolling over in the air so he was upright again.

Tenna smiled and nodded. “I'm coming, hold on.” She had barely finished the sentence before Tech went on ahead again, still faster than what Tenna could do walking.

“Slow down! Tech!” Tenna said, not quite yelling, but not quite at a conversation level.

Tech let out an exaggerated sigh before turning around and walking back to the changeling. Tenna just shook her head and giggled at the antics of the strange pony. She hadn't been around many ponies since she started her journey, but even she could tell that Tech was either hyper or just strange.

“Wh-where are we going?” Tenna asked as Tech met her halfway while still wearily looking around at her surroundings. She was getting odd looks here and there, which made her feel uneasy about being in town, but nothing hostile. She even thought she got a smile from someone whenever their gaze met, but she broke off before she could be sure.

“We're going to go see... Well, I don't know exactly. We're still setting up, so most of my friends are busy helping their parents... Any ideas?”

Tenna shrugged.”I-I don't know. I've never been here before.”

Tech nodded. “Good point. I guess we could go and see...” He trailed off and sighed. “I got nothing. Everything around here is closed because they're getting ready for the celebration or we'll get in the way.”

“So... we just walk around?” Tenna asked, making sure she had gotten it right. The concept sorta intimidated her, but she was also interested in seeing how they lived their lives.

He gave a tilt of his head to give an affirmation. The strange pair just walked through the town, wandering aimlessly. Tenna slowly grew accustomed to the stare. They still made her feel really uncomfortable, but she was dealing with it. Well... sorta dealing with it. Every time she saw someone looking at her, she would use her mane to create a wall between herself and them.

“Are you staying in town for the celebration, or are you just passing through?” Tech asked suddenly, still walking forwards.

Tenna slowed down slightly, thinking.

“I was just passing through, but with Celestia coming here I think I may stay for a little longer.” She said, smiling a bit.

“Where were you headed, anyway?”

“I was headed up to Canterlot... I-I was seeing if Celestia could help me.”

Tech paused, glancing towards Tenna before continuing.

“Maybe I could help? Tech offered, trying to be helpful.

Tenna smiled and giggles a little bit. “I don’t think that this is the type of problem that you can help on, Tech.”

“Yeah, but I can try... Oh, hey! Hello!”

Tenna swiveled her head to see who he was talking too.

A purple unicorn, with a small dragon on her back had just turned the corner in front of them.

“What? Oh, hello! Um... can either of you tell me the way to- Oh, well, that’s interesting!” The unicorn said, looking at Tenna suddenly.

“Wh-what?”

“I’ve never seen a species of pony like you before. What’s your name?”

“I-I’m Tenna.” She answered, her voice getting slightly soft.

“Well, hi Tenna! I’m Twilight Sparkle, and I’m here to make sure that everything is up correctly for the Summer Sun Celebration.”

The small dragon on her back waved and pointed at himself. “I’m Spike!”

Tech waved back at the dragon. “I’m Tech!”

Twilight smiled. “Do either of you know the way to... Spike?”

The dragon pulled out a small parchment, before scanning it quickly.

“Um... We need to get to Sweet Apple Acres.”

Tech pointed towards the farm, barely visible on the horizon.

“That’s it! Look for Applejack or Big Macintosh, they run the place. The rest of the family is just helping with the preparations.”

Twilight nodded. “Thanks. Hopefully this will be quick.”

With those words, she left, going towards the orchard in the distance.

“Well, that was interesting.” Tech said slowly, before turning back to Tenna. “Want to see the lake? It’s on the other side of town, but it’s worth the trip!”

“Sure. I-I would like that.”

They lapsed back into the silence that they both respected, but enjoyed in a way. It was fairly quiet, the only sounds being the background conversations and the normal sounds of a bustling community. That is, until a large gasp filled the air.

“Uh-oh...”

Tenna paused. “Uh-oh?” She repeated.

All of a sudden her vision was cut, replaced by a face of pink almost touching her own face.

“Hi! You must be new in town! I’m Pinkie Pie, your friendly neighborhood... Pinkie Pie! And now I’ve gotten two whole parties to plan!” Pinkie gasped. “I gotta go! I’ll talk to you later! Tech!”

Tech looked at Pinkie. “Yeah?”

“Library. Party. Make sure you’re there!” Pinkie said, spinning around and bouncing away.

Tenna just stared after her, unsure as to what to make of the pink pony that had just seemingly had come out of nowhere, and then just as quickly had left.

“Wh-what just happened?” She asked Tech, to make sure that he had seen her too.

“That... would be Pinkie Pie. Tons of fun, but doesn’t make any sense most of the time.”

“But.”

“No.”

“But!”

“No. Trust me on this. Don’t question her. You will drive yourself crazy. Pinkie doesn’t have to follow all the laws of nature all the time for some reason.”

“Oh. I see...” Tenna said, when quite clearly she didn’t.

Tech laughed at Tenna’s expression. It was one that he had worn when he had moved to Ponyville, one of confusion.

“Don’t worry about it.”

The pair moved on, Tenna slowly growing more and more comfortable about being in town. She still got stares, but she was growing used to them.

Until she heard a yell. A loud one, coming from her left and behind.

Tenna’s head swirled around, she could hear it, and it was getting louder.

“Get away from that colt, you monster!”

Tenna gasped as she felt herself being slammed backwards, falling on her back. She could hear Tech yelling on the edge of her hearing, but she couldn’t quite make out what he was yelling.

The sky blue wall jumped off of her into the air, hovering there.

“What do you think you’re doing? You just can’t come into my town and go up to the first pony you find!”

Tenna gasped, hooved up in front of her face, trying to curl into a ball. She was trying to make herself as small as possible.

“What the hay are you anyway?”Rainbow shouted, coming and nearly dive bombing Tenna, causing her to let out a “Eep!” and cringe.“Did you come from the Everfree? Are you a magic mishap?”She yelled, angry at Tenna.

“Rainbow Dash! What are you doing!” Tech yelled, angry at Dash.

“Saving your sorry butt, kid!”Dash yelled back, going down and actually picking Tenna up, Tenna being close to tears by this point.

“You're hurting her! Stop it!” Tech yelled, pushing off the ground and racing to Dash.

“I’m making sure she goes back where belongs!”

“Rainbow! Listen! You’re really scaring her!”

“I’m just taking her back to the Everfree kid. She doesn’t belong here!” Dash said, starting to fly towards the Everfree

“Dash! Listen to me! Seriously! And you’re only like three years older than I am!” Tech yelled, pushing Rainbow Dash from behind.

“Kid! Seriously, I don’t know what freaky mind magic she did, but snap out of it!” Dash said, giving Tech a death glare while fighting.

“Dash, for once in your life, listen to someone other than yourself!” Tech said, giving Dash one last final push.

“Kid! Sto-Woah!” Dash said, suddenly losing her grip on Tenna. Suddenly finding herself falling, she instinctively snapped open her wings, flying her own. Blinking, her eyes glowed a ghostly green. Enough was enough, and Tenna had had enough. Flying up, she locked her arms around Rainbow’s neck and closed her wings with her legs.

Which caused her to plummet towards the ground.

Letting out one of her boyish screams, Dash watched as ground came hurtling up to meet her, her wings trying desperately to open against Tenna’s legs.

At the last second, Tenna shook her head, the green glow gone when she blinked.

“Wha?”

Free from resistance, Rainbow Dash’s wings snapped open, knocking Tenna off. It hurt, and she still crashed into the ground hard, but she would live.

Tenna, however, was hurtling through the air, her sense of balance too messed up to correct her course.

Tech, however, had been hovering in place since the entire conflict had started, and it had only taken less than a minute for everything to escalate to the current levels.

“Tenna!” Tech cried out, diving to try catch her friend. He almost caught her, barely missing her by a matter of inches, a slight miscalculation in his head.

Tenna, instead of hitting the ground lucked out. An innocent cabbage vendor was pulling his cart in for the day.

000

The cabbage vendor sighed. It had been a slow day.

Well, a slow week...

Or month, if he was being honest with himself. Ponyville wasn’t a cabbage town. It was always apples here. Apple this! Apple that! What was wrong with a good old fashioned cabbage every now and then? To be honest....

Wait, was that screaming? Where would the screaming be coming from? Ponyville was always such a quiet town. Searching for the sound, he realized it wasn’t coming from around him, it was coming from...

Ears flattening against his head, he looked up, just in time to see a black object with a green trail crash into his cart, before rolling out of it on the side he couldn’t see.

But the cabbage pony wasn’t worried about whatever had crashed into his cart. He only had one thing on his mind.

“MY CABBAGES!”

000

Tenna jerked from her state of semi-consciousness. She hurt. Her legs, her wings, her head.

“Oh... my aching everything.” Someone groaned.

Tenna’s head turned towards the sound, and widened her eyes at what she saw. The blue pegasus... Rainbow Dash, she thought, was on the ground, rising shakily to her feet.

‘OhmygoshdidIjustdothat!?’ Tenna thought, worry suddenly flowing through her system.

Getting to her feet and wobbling around for a moment, she starts running away. She didn’t know where she was going. All she knew is that she had to get away. Away from here.

Tech zoomed down, finally managed to spot Tenna. But before he could reach her, she took off running randomly through town, running into and jostling ponies in the street. Cries of “Hey!” and “Watch it!” followed her. Leaping to the air, he got ready to take off after her.

“Hey-Hey! Stop that! Rainbow, what are you doing!?”

“We’re going to your house, and you can explain to your parents why you thought it would be a good idea to push a flying pegasus!” Dash said, dragging Tech through the air.

“You were hurting my friend! Rainbow, let me go!”

Rainbow Dash didn’t let go, and continued to drag Tech towards the other side of town, away from where Tenna was running.

000

Author's Note

And first chapter. Like, dislike, whatever. Leave a comment!

Thanks to all the people that listened to me talk about this!

All Your Hopes

Tenna

Chapter Two: Extinguished and Rekindled Hopes

Written by: Listener

Tenna ran.

She ran from what she didn’t know.

She ran from what had happened.

She ran from what might have happened.

She ran, tears threatening to fall from her face.

How could she have been so stupid, to think that ponies would accept her! They never had, and never will.

“Hey, watch it! Dash, that hurts!” Tech complained as he was dragged along through the sky.

“Well, somepony’s got to make sure that you get home and your parents find out about your little stunt. Making me drop that thing by pushing me? Seriously, what were you thinking? And what are they teaching you guys in school these days? Urg, I so do not have time for this! I gotta get ready for tomorrow. They’re even sending down someone from Canterlot to check that I’ve done my work correctly.”

Tech struggled in her grasp. Seeing his opportunity, he seized it.

“She's already here! I saw her with a small dragon just about twenty minutes ago!”

Dash stopped, but didn't loosen her grip. “Are you sure kid? If you're just trying to wiggle out of being in trouble, I should warn you, you can't fool the master.”

Tech nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! I swear that I'm telling the truth.”

Dash loosened her grip, dropping it completely. “I'll trust you this time. But if you're lying, I'll come back and drag your butt to your parents again.” She said after thinking about it for a minute. She smiled. “Besides, I'm being hypocritical, aren't I? I know what's it like to be young and reckless.”

Tech grinned, glad to be back on good terms with the weather pony. “What are you talking about? You're still young and reckless.” He teased.

Dash laughed, before taking to the air. “Two things though, if you see that thing again, come and find me.”

“Dash... she's not a thing. She's a she”

“Fine then. If you see her again, come find me.” She said in an insisting manner.

Tech grudgingly nodded. “Fine.” He said, sighing heavily throughout the word.

Dash nodded, satisfied with that answer. “Okay. I'm sorry for being...” She paused, thinking for a word. Tech decided to butt in at this.

“Stupid?”

Dash glared, but her eyes were laughing.

“I was going to say brash, but stupid works too. But I just had a bad feeling about her.”

“But you didn't even get to know her! She's a good friend!” Tech said, defending Tenna.

Dash nodded, being serious for a moment, which was unusual for her. “Let me rephrase. I don't exactly have a bad feeling about her, but...” She sighed, shaking her head. “I got a feeling in my gut that... something bad is coming, something that's connected to her.”

She blinked, switching back into her usual self. “What am I saying, huh kid? Bad feelings, things to come?” She laughed. “Also, you said that you had seen this pony from Canterlot. What's he look like?”

Tech thought for a moment. “Well, he's a she, for starters. A unicorn, purple, and she's got a small purple dragon that rides on her back. I think he might be a baby or something.”

“Names?”

“Um... Twilight Sparkle, I think is the unicorn. And the dragon's name is Spike.”

Dash nodded. “Thanks kid. Oh, and make sure you know when it's alright to push someone next time, yeah?”

Tech nodded back, and then Dash was gone.

Tech smiled, pleased that he was no longer in trouble. Then his good mood came crashing down around him as he quickly remembered the reason that Dash was dragging him off to his parents in the first place.

He gasped, worry coursing through his system.

“Oh crap! Tenna!”

000

Tenna ran.

She ran until she couldn't run anymore. Slowing, she breathed heavily, blood pounding in her ears. She hadn't run like this in a while.

She thought about it for a moment.

Had she ever run like this before? So many things left unknown. Who was she? What was she? All she had was her name and a word. One single word that defined her, defined who she was, defined how she lived.

Changeling.

The night was falling now. She hadn't gone far, the town was still visible. She let out a breath, trembling as the air started to cool.

She couldn't take it.

She just couldn't. She had let someone in, actually started to trust someone, and then it had all fallen apart. She could barely remember what had happened. She had been talking to Tech, and then she was on the ground. Then she had been in the air...

Then suddenly she was in someone’s cabbage cart.

She let out a small smile before it slipped again.

She was falling apart.

She didn't know what to do.

She felt empty. Like there was supposed to be something more here. Something here, or someone else here with her.

Her breath hitched for a moment, before the dam broke.

Tenna started to cry.

000

“Have you seen a black pony anywhere? She's about this tall? Has a clip in her hair?”

“Have you seen anypony new around town today? No, someone besides the purple unicorn.”

“Have you seen somepony named Tenna?

“Have you seen her?”

Tech sighed in frustration. Nopony had seen Tenna! Or if they had, they weren't telling. Or their leads led nowhere.

It was almost night time, and almost time to check in with his parents, but he didn't want to just leave without finding out if she was at least okay.

“Dammit Dash...” He whispered to himself, allowing himself at least that small way of showing his unhappiness.

Seeing one last pony he decided to give it one last shot. He didn't expect anything, but he hoped.

Like he had been hoping all day.

What was it about her? He had only known Tenna for less than a day, with him supplying more of the conversation than Tenna. Then why couldn't he just move on? She clearly wasn't going to stay in town, she was too uncomfortable.

Then why...

Tech sighed heavily, approaching the tan earth pony with a navy blue vest on.

“Excuse me, but have you seen a black pony? She has a slightly messy mane? About this high?” Tech asked, holding his hoof off the ground to show her approximate height.

The pony stopped, putting a hoof to his muzzle and thinking.

“You know what? As a matter fact, I have seen someone matching that description.”

Tech's ears perked up at this, a hopeful look coming onto his face.

“Did you see which way she was going?” Tech asked, hope also creeping into his voice. Maybe he could find her and still be home on time.

“She was running up towards Sweet Apple Acres. Poor thing, looked like she was about to cry. If you're her friend, I suggest you try to cheer her up.”

Tech smiled at the stranger. “Thanks!”

He smiled at him, and nodded. “No problems.”

Tech turned and shot off towards the farm, hoping to catch up with Tenna.

000

Tenna sat there, under the tree.

Crying.

She wept for everything that had happened.

She wept for the events that she knew were to come.

Always an outcast.

Never herself.

“Hello? Anyone out here?”

Tenna stopped, fear seizing through her. In a flash of muted green light, she lay there as the gray pegasus, the tear stains still there even through her disguise.

“Ah said, is anyone out here?”

Tenna considered running again and stood on shaky legs. Grass rustled beneath her feet, and she tried to walk forward, but couldn't. She was too tired, too hungry, and too exhausted, both physically and mentally.

“Ah won't ask again. Who's out here?”

Tenna tried to talk, and it came out in a hoarse voice. Swallowing hard, she tried again.

“I-I am.”

The hoofsteps started coming towards her again.

“May I ask what in the hay you are doing in my apple field?”

Tenna looked at the orange mare with the hat, barely registering the question.

“Woah, hey there honey, you don't look so hot. Come here, let me make sure you're okay.”

Tenna walked slowly towards the farmer, stopping in front of her. She was tired, and her exhaustion had blunted her apprehension about being around her. Besides, she looked like a normal pony.

Applejack looked her over with a concerned eye, taking in how Tenna looked.

She didn’t look good. She looked... defeated.

“Come on sugarcube, let’s get you back to the house. We’ll get some food in you, okay?” Applejack said, walking over and putting a hoof around her neck, gently guiding her towards her house. “It’s not that far. Ah’m Applejack, by the way. What’s your name?”

“Ten-Tenna.”

“That’s a might pretty name there Tenna.”

Tenna leaned into Applejack, letting her lead her to the house that was growing bigger through the trees, until they finally emerged from the treeline. Almost immediately the sounds of a large gathering assaulted their ears. Tenna’s ears flattened against her head, while she looked around.

“So... many... ponies...” She whispered softly.

Applejack noticed, and nodded. “Hey, we can go inside if it’ll be more comfortable. Less ponies and all.”

Tenna nodded, keeping a wary eye on the crowd around several outside tables, eating what looked like a late dinner. Keeping a wary eye on the gathering she saw a few of the ponies look over and nod in their general direction, but for the most part the gathering ignored her. Applejack led her around the gathering, keeping a little distance between them and the dinner.

Getting to the house, Applejack opened her door, yelling out.

“Granny! Big Mac? Applebloom? Anyone in here?”

“Ah am! What’s going on Applejack?” Applebloom yelled out from their kitchen.

“We got company. We have any food left in the kitchen?”

Applebloom stuck her head around the corner, getting a look at their guest. “We have some grilled cheese and some apple’s left over from dinner. We made more than enough!”

Applejack goes forward towards her and gives a slight noogie.

“Okay then. Why don’t you go outside and finish catching up with the family now?” She said, making the suggestion in a tone that Applebloom knew that it would be smart to follow it.

Applebloom nodded, and went past the pair. She turned to Tenna and smiled at her before heading outside.

“Hey, tell Granny and Mac that we got guests!”

A call of affirmation came into the house before the door shut behind her.

“Well, we’ve got grilled cheese apparently. That sound good to you?”

Tenna rubbed a hoof across her eyes, wiping some of the grit away from them.

“Ye-yeah. That does sound good.” She said, following Applejack into the kitchen and sitting at the table in it.

Applejack worked around the counter, grabbing some food and setting it on a plate before bringing it over to the table.

“There we go. We got some grilled cheese, with some daisies and apple slices. It’s not much, but it’s hearty and will fill your belly.”

Tenna nodded quickly, before digging in, devouring the grilled cheese and chomping away at the apples.

Applejack watched in silence, before asking a question. “So. Why were you in our field anyway?”

Tenna looked up and swallowed her mouthful.

“I... uh..” She stuttered, unsure of how to respond. “I was...”

She trailed off, her gaze dropping back down to the food. Applejack sensed this and dropped the subject, but changed it.

“So, then... ah.. What are you doing in town? You here for the Summer Sun Celebration?”

Tenna slowly nodded. “I-I was passing through, but I’m planning on staying here for it.”

“Ya got anywhere to stay, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

Tenna slowly chewed another apple slice before slowly shaking her head.

“Well, you’re welcome to stay here at Sweet Apple Acres for a while Tenna. We got plenty of room.”

Tenna looked up, smiling slightly.

“I’d like that.” She said, tapping her hoofs lightly together again. “Thanks.”

The door opened, and both heads swiveled towards the sound, Tenna slightly apprehensive about meeting someone new.

“Aj?” Came a masculine voice.

“In the kitchen Mac!” Applejack called out. “Did Applebloom tell you?”

“Eeyup. We got company for the night?”

“Looks that way. Can ya get the guest bedroom ready?”

“Eeyup.” Sounds of footsteps went through the hallway past the kitchen and up the stairs.

Applejack looked at Tenna, noticing the look that she was getting. “That’s Big Macintosh, my brother.”

“Oh-okay.”

“Now, there’s supposed to be party in town this afternoon. You want’ta come, or you wanna stay here and sleep?”

Tenna brought a hoof to her chin. “Can I just sleep? I-I’m tired.”

Applejack nodded. “Come on, Mac should be done getting it ready.” She said, grabbing the now clean plate and tossing it into the sink. “It’s the first room on the left.”

Tenna stood up and followed the orange mare.

“I-I like your hat.” She said, making a slight motion to the stetson on her head.

Applejack looked back at Tenna, smiling. “Thanks Tenna. It’s been in the family for a long time.”

Tenna smiled back, growing slowly more comfortable around the other pony.

Getting to the top of the stairs, Applejack pushed the door open, revealing a simple bedroom. It had a window looking over the orchard and the town in the distance, and a bed. It also had a dresser with a mirror on top of it.

“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll come by and wake you up whenever it’s getting close to the celebration, ‘kay? If you wake up before then, come by the library in town. I hear there’s gonna be a party there.” Applejack said, smiling at Tenna as she slowly climbed into the bed. “I’ll leave ya to get some sleep. Night Tenna”

With those words, she backed out of the room and shut it. Tenna didn’t hear her though. She was already asleep, exhausted from her day.

Knocking came from downstairs.

Applejack sighed. “Ah’m coming!” She called, going down the stairs and heading towards the door.

Getting to the door, she opened to see a green pegasus. “Tech, what in the hay are you doing here? Do your parents know you’re here?”

Tech shook his head. “No.... but I’m looking for someone called Tenna. Someone said that they had seen her coming up here.”

“Tenna? She’s upstairs right now.”

Tech sighed in relief. “Finally found her. Can I see her?”

Applejack gave Tech a level stare. “Depends. What was she so upset about whenever ah found her?”

“That would be Rainbow Dash. She came in without getting all the facts... again.” Tech explained, rolling his eyes.

“Rainbow? Dammit, that girl needs to think before doing stuff like this. This is third time this month that she’s sent someone crying. What was she thinking, making that sweet pegasus cry like that.” Applejack complained to Tech.

Tech looked at Applejack in confusion. “Pegasus? But Tenna is a.... she isn’t a pegasus.”

Applejack looked at Tech weirdly. “Hun, I just saw her. She is definitely a pegasus. Blue mane with a grey coat? Cloud cutie-mark?”

“That isn’t... What?”

Applejack sighed. “So you know Tenna, but you don’t know what she looks like. Are you sure you know her?”

Tech nodded vigorously. “Of course I know her! Can I see her?”

Applejack shook her head. “Not at the moment. She’s asleep right now. And anyway we need to get you back to your parents.”

“Applejack.” Tech whined, putting on a pouting face.

“Tech, that worked when you were three. You’re sixteen now. It stopped working a long time ago.”

Tech sighed. “Fine. But is she okay?”

Applejack nodded. “She’ll be fine. She just looks like she needed a good night’s sleep. Now come on, we’re getting back to town for that party. Your parents should be there.”

Tech nodded. “I’m coming back later to make sure though, okay?”

Applejack nodded. “Okay. I can live with that. Now come on, we’re going to be late.”

Applejack took off at a run, leaving Tech behind until he took to the air, wings flapping.

Tech even managed beat her to the library.

000

Tenna awoke.

Tenna sat up, trying to remember where she was before she relaxed, remembering. She was at a farm. Sweet Apple Acres.

Suddenly a familiar face filled her vision. Surprised, she scooted back in bed before realizing that it was just Tech.

“So. Applejack thinks you’re Tenna. But you don’t look like her. What gives? Are you a spy?” Tech asked, throwing out questions in a rapid fire.

“Whoa, whoa, Tech. S-slow down. Slow down! I-I am Tenna. Just... different.”

Tech looked at her with an examining eye. “Then why are you suddenly a pegasus?”

“I... I can do this... thing. I can change what I look like at will.” Tenna said, looking at the door to make sure that it was closed.

“Really? Can you look like me then?” Tech asked, a curious look coming over his face.

Tenna looked at him. “Wh-What?”

“Could you look like me?” Tech asked.

“I suppose?” Tenna said, unsure where this was going.

“Show me.”

Tenna blinked at him. “Wh-what?”

“Could you show me? Please?” Tech asked again.

Tenna blinked at him again, and in a flash of green light became an exact copy of Tech.

“Woah” Tech said, amazed. Tilting his head, he saw that the other Tech did the same.

He laughed. “Okay, okay, I believe that you’re Tenna. Well, with that covered, we need to get to town!”

“To town? Why?” Tenna asked while she assumed her disguise again.

“The Summer Sun Celebration! It’s happening in about twenty minutes! We gotta go!” Tech said urgently.

“But... why can’t we do that here?” Tenna asked tiredly.

“Because Celestia is down there! Now come on!” Tech said, rushing out the door.

Tenna sighed quietly before getting out of bed, running after Tech down the stairs and out the door.

“We gotta hurry, we can’t be late!” Tech said, ambushing her when she got out the door, grabbing her hoof and running.

Tenna stumbled before getting into the rhythm of running on three hooves, Tech pulling on her the entire time. Eventually town came into view, and Tech finished dragging her to Town hall an silently slipped inside. They made it in time to hear the mayor start her speech.

“Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!”

Tenna moved towards the back of the crowd, trying to be as small possible to the crowd. Tech followed, waving a hoof at his parents to let them know he made it.

“In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria... Princess Celestia!”

A white unicorn pulled on a rope, and the curtain fell away to reveal... nothing.

A gasp came up from around the room. Tenna leaned towards Tech. “Um, she’s not there.”

Tech looks back at her. “Yeah. We know.”

All of a sudden a black cloud condensed on the balcony, forming a large pony with wings.... and a horn.

“Wait, I-I thought you said that there were only two alicorns?” Tenna asked over the din.

“I thought there were only two!” Tech said back.

“Then... what?”

“I don’t know!”

Tenna looked back up at the figure, fear coming into her heart, but something more. She felt like she knew what that figure was. She felt her brows furrow in concentration, trying to remember why she seemed so familiar.

That is, until a purple unicorn they knew stood up to her.

“Twilight?” Tech whispered, confused,

“Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?”

“I did. And I know who you are. You're the Mare in the Moon – Nightmare Moon!”

Loud gasps filled the room once again.

“Well well well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here.”

“You're here to... to...” Twilight gulped audibly.

Nightmare moon laughed evilly, casing a icy feeling to grow on the ponies in the room.

“Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!”

Author's Note

Holy shit, this took off, didn't it? Here's another chapter for you all.

Enjoy, and give Tenna a hug. She likes them.

Needing to Forget...

The Princess had said her farewells, yet Tech and Tenna were still at the library.

“Uh, Twilight? I’m sorta going to be grounded if I don’t get home soon. I’m already in enough hot water with my parents...” Tech said, looking at Twilight worriedly. She had that sort of.. glint in her eyes.

“Oh, they know you’re with me. I asked them if I could talk to you about last night. They agreed.” Twilight said nonchalantly, waving a hoof in a small circle.

Tenna frowned softly at this. She noticed her hooves were doing their little thing, tapping together lightly and in little circles. “Uh... App-Applejack is expecting me back on the farm, Twi-Twilight.”

Twilight smiled at this. “I told her that I needed to ask you a few questions too, Tenna.” She went over to a desk and levitated a small clipboard and a quill over to her, before looking back at the pair.

“Okay. First off, did you two see anything in the forest last night?” She asked, glancing at the pair expectantly. Tech just sighed, before answering the question. “I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Heck, we didn’t even see any animals, it was so quiet.”

Tenna looked up slowly. “I-I saw something. Tech didn’t see it, but it was... sorta like black smoke?”

Twilight nodded. “Luna wasn’t able to remember most of what she did as Nightmare Moon, but she was able to recall that that is how she traveled quickly. Strange. Most ponies aren’t able to see it... Which leads me to my second point. Why doesn’t Tenna look the way she did yesterday?” She asked, her eyes narrowed with the question.

Tech stuttered through his answer. “Uh... well... well you see Twilight, that is an interesting question. And it has an interesting answer...” He trailed off.

Twilight looked up from writing his answer down. “And the answer would be?”

Tech hesitated, then sighed. “That’s not my answer to give.” He said, his tone implying that he wasn’t going to say anything more on the matter.

Twilight looked at him for a while, before grinning slightly. Her head slowly turned towards Tenna. “So... would it be yours then?”

Tenna shifted under her gaze. This was getting creepy, and fast. “Uh... yes?” She said slowly.

Twilight dipped her quill in her inkwell. “So. Why? You’re a pegasus, so magic is out of the question for you. So no appearance spells. But you had a horn yesterday.” She put her quill down along with the clipboard. “What are you, Tenna?”

Tenna opened her mouth to reply, but fell to the ground in pain, clutching her head. Immediately, Tech was up and by her side. “Tenna! What’s wrong?”

“My head! It’s splitting!” She managed to whimper before slipping into the black.

Tech glared at Twilight. “What did you do to her?”

“Me? I didn’t do anything!” She defended herself.

“Well then, what happened?” Tech asked, worry filling his voice.

The sound of the kitchen door distracted them both. Spike had pushed it open with his back.

“Who wants hayfries!?” Spike said, turning around and showing off a platter of hayfries. His eyes quickly followed Tech’s and Twilight’s to the body on the floor, which had reverted to her changeling form.

“Oh.”

000

“He-hello?” Tenna called out to the darkness. It was dark.

So very, very dark.

“What are you!?” A voice came echoing out of the darkness.

“Wha-What?”

Suddenly the darkness lifted, and Tenna found herself looking at a crystal wall. It showed a jagged image of herself, reflected and altered many times. But it didn’t matter which way she saw herself. She looked awful. Beaten.

Rejected.

“So? What are you? You aren’t a changeling, that’s for sure! I don’t know where you got the notion you were, but it ends here.” Came an acidic voice, one that caused Tenna to cringe. Tenna felt the words cut her to the core. She almost started crying. Then the blow came.

She cried out in pain, and felt her body slide over the stone floor.

“I’ve tried time and time again to teach you how to be the changeling I need, something that the hive could be proud that it produced. But each time I see you, you become weaker and weaker.” Another blow, harder this time, and quickly followed by another.

“Get out of my sight, before I decide that this should be the last time I have to deal with you!” The figure turned away with a sound of disgust, walking away as the edges of Tenna’s vision started to blur.

“I-I’m sorry--” she started to choke out, but was cut off by a gentle hoof under her chin.

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” Said a soothing voice. Tenna tried to place it, but couldn’t.

And that made her even more upset.

The world faded, leaving only Tenna. And then, even that was gone, lost to the dark.

000

Tenna jerked in her sleep, before settling down and relaxing slightly, tears coming from her eyes and flowing down her face.

Tech looked at her with a concerned expression on his face. He turned to Twilight.

“She’s crying.”

“I can see that.” Twilight sighed. “She looked like she had a reaction to what I said.”

Tech scoffed. “I can see that. What I also see is that we can’t move her from here.” He sighed.

Twilight looked at him curiously. “Why not?”

“Twilight, do you see how she looks? I told you it wasn’t my secret. Because it’s her secret.”

“But that’s how I saw her yesterday. She was in town and the ponies accepted her, didn’t they?”

“Yeah, but then Dash entered the scene.” Tech ran a hoof through his mane worriedly. “She going to have to stay here.”

“Tech. She can’t stay here. We could just take her up to the farm.”

“No Twilight.”

“But... I’ve got so many things to do!”

“Twilight, she fainted at your house, while you were questioning her.”

“Yes, but, I still don’t see why we couldn’t bring her up to Applejack’s.”

“Twilight. It’s her secret.”

“But...”

“Twilight, promise me that you’ll keep this a secret. You too Spike.”

Spike nodded, making the promise readily. Twilight, however, seemed slightly apprehensive about such a promise.

“Twilight. Promise.”

“I-I can’t. What if the Princesses need to be told? They might be able to help.”

“Twilight. Nopony can know, unless Tenna tells them herself.”

“Tech. I can’t make that promise.” Twilight said.

Tech rubbed his temples with his hooves.

“Can you promise not to tell them until you’ve spoken to her?” He asked.

Twilight bit her lip for a moment, before sighing. “I’ll give her that.”

Tech got up quickly and gave Twilight a hug. “Thank you! She’s a nice pony, once you get to know her.”

Twilight gave a start, before hugging Tech back. Breaking it off, she smiled.

“Didn’t you have to get back home?” She asked, looking at the clock.

Tech looked up at the clock as well, and gasped.

“Crap! I am soo grounded!” He yelled, whisking himself out the door.

Twilight stared after him before smiling slightly. “Spike? I’m taking Tenna upstairs. If you would start making dinner to go with those hayfries, that would be great.”

Spike nodded. “I’ll get right on that Twilight!”

Twilight smiled at Spike before picking Tenna up in her magic and starting to take her upstairs, to put Tenna into the only bed at the time, her’s.

Placing the covers over Tenna, she sighed. She would ask Tenna again, but this time wouldn’t push her.

Smiling softly, she giggled. “At least you already have a friend willing to stick up for you Tenna.”

As she turned towards the door to leave, Twilight could have sworn she had seen Tenna smile in her sleep.

Author's Note

Short Chapter. Sorry guys, but I've got so many things going on this month that it's going to be another two weeks before I can even start on the second part, "...Wanting to Remember"
Just remember, you're lucky I got this one. I split the chapter for this.

...Wanting to Remember

Tenna stirred, reaching her hooves up to her face to wipe the sleep from her eyes.

Stretching slightly, she opened her eyes slowly, and was surprised to see not her bedroom at the farm, but something completely different.

Sitting up, she looked around herself. There was a window right next to the bed, which she could see most of Ponyville. Looking down at herself, she also realized that if anyone looked in, they would see her as herself and quickly shut the blinds.

“Oh, you’re awake! That’s good. Twilight was worried that you wouldn’t wake up for a day or two.”

Tenna’s breath hitched, and she whirled around towards the entrance to the room only to see a slightly familiar purple baby dragon standing there.

“Woah, sorry Tenna, I didn’t mean to scare you. Um... I’ll go grab Twilight.” Spike said, turning and leaving Tenna alone again.

Twilight...

Memories of the night before flitted through her mind, but she couldn’t piece any of it together...

Tenna’s head hurt.

The sound of hooves coming up the stairs caused Tenna to look back up to see Twilight entering the room, her hair messed up. She dove under the covers, trying to hide.

“Tenna. I can still see you. I’m sorry about last night, but could we talk face to face.”

“I-I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

Tenna didn’t respond.

“Tenna, if it’s about what you look like, you don’t have to hide it. I’ve already seen you this way, remember?” Twilight said, trying to reason with Tenna.

The lump under the covers slowly emerged, until Tenna was looking at Twilight, who had moved up closer to the bed. The first thing Tenna saw was her mane, which was sticking up in random places.

Tenna stifled a giggle, as it looked ridiculous.

Twilight noticed. “Yeah. I ended up sleeping on the couch, so excuse my hair. I didn’t want to wake you up, and my hairbrush is up here.” She said, going over and levitating said brush out of an unpacked box. Quickly sorting her mane out, she smiled awkwardly up at Tenna.

“So... Sorry about last night. I didn’t realize how...” She paused, trying to think of the right word. “straightforward I was being last night. Are you okay?”

Tenna nodded, confused.

“Wait... Wh-what happened?”

“You don’t remember?”

“N-No...”

“I was asking you some questions when you blacked out.” Twilight explained, omitting what Tenna had said, and her conversation with Tech afterwards.

“I-I what?”

Twilight sat down next to Tenna, causing the bed to shake a little.

“Tenna. I was wondering. Why don’t you want to be yourself around others?”

Tenna looked at Twilight, her eyes displaying a sadness that words couldn’t express.

“I’ve... I’ve been alone for a while. Every-Everytime I tried to be myself around them... I... I-” Tenna cut off, tears threatening to fall.

Twilight scooted over, giving Tenna a hug suddenly. Sighing, she smiled softly.

“I will be the first to admit the ponies aren’t as perfects as we like to think ourselves. While there are some ponies that are cruel, there are others that are accepting.”

“I... I just can’t.” Tenna said, refusing to look Twilight in the eyes.

Twilight let the hug drop, before getting back up off the bed and climbing down the stairs.

“Well, I’m sure you’re hungry. Spike made breakfast downstairs, and I was wondering if you would answer some of my questions over food?” Twilight asked. “I promise that this time that I won’t push anything that you don’t want to answer.”

Tenna nodded slowly, before getting out of bed and following Twilight down the stairs and into the kitchen.

The entered the room as Spike was finishing setting up the table, with him setting down a bowl of oatmeal on the oak table.

“Thanks Spike. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Twilight said, rubbing the baby dragons head lightly.

“Aw, come on Twilight. You know that annoys me...” Spike said, escaping to the other side of the kitchen table. Giggling, Twilight nodded.

“I know.”

Spike stuck his tongue out at Twilight and sat down at the table, pulling the oatmeal over to him and sticking some in his bowl.

Tenna giggled softly at the antics of the both the purple unicorn, and the purple baby dragon.

“Take a seat Tenna. Do you like oatmeal?” Twilight asked, taking a seat of her own.

Sitting down slowly, Tenna nodded. “I-I think so.”

Twilight nodded, and put some in a bowl for Tenna. Tenna thanked Twilight and started to eat.

“So, Tenna. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?”

Tenna looked up, wary.

“I won’t push this time. I promise.”

Taking a deep breath, Tenna nodded.

“Great! Now. Do you know what you are?”

Tenna shook her head.

“Do you know why you can change?”

Tenna shook her head again.

Twilight slowed down and paused for a bit.

“Maybe I’m asking the wrong questions. Tenna, what do you remember?”

Tenna looked down.

“My-My name... And how to change...”

“That’s it?”

Tenna nodded.

Twilight smiled a bit and reached over and patted Tenna’s hoof.

“Tenna, it sounds like somebody has blocked your memories. It should be a rather simple process to unblock them.”

Tenna looked at Twilight. “Yo-You can do that?”

Twilight nodded and motioned down to her cutie mark. “The table is in the way at the moment, but my cutie mark shows that my special talent is magic itself.”

Tenna looked at Twilight, hope in her eyes.

“With your permission, maybe we could get you your memories back right now.”

“Y-You don’t have to prepare?”

“Nope. It’s a rather simple spell, actually. You see Tenna, it’s hard to force something that should be there to hide. All it needs is a slight energy boost to break free.”

Twilight stood up, and walked around the table.

“Would you like me to unblock them?”

“Ye-Yes.”

“Okay. I’m going to need you to stand and face me. This spell requires direct contact of my horn on your head.”

Tenna stood up, and faced Twilight.

“I’m going to start the spell. You can’t move, okay?”

Tenna nodded.

“Okay.”

With a blink, Twilight’s horn started to glow, and she slowly placed her horn on Tenna’s forehead.

Tenna blinked, and her eyes started to glow a ghostly green, as Twilight’s began to light up white.

After a minute, Twilight broke contact, sitting down hard. Tenna stood there, searching her mind for any memories.

There were none.

“Twi-Twilight. I still can’t re-remember anything.”

Twilight looked up, dreading the news that she was going to have to give Tenna.

“Tenna... I don’t know how to tell you this, but your memories...”

She paused, and took a deep breath.

“Your memories. They aren’t just blocked. They’re missing. Gone.”

“But... But...”

“All I could sense was fragments, as if whoever wanted to erase them was distracted.”

Tenna looked at Twilight. “Is there-is there anything you can do?”

“I’m sorry Tenna, but all that’s left are pieces, scattered so much that I can’t piece them together.”

“It’s... It’s as if there is nothing but dust and echoes.”

Author's Note

Ah, the reference.

Anyway, this is done, and before camp next week as well!

Breakfast Blues

Tech walked along the streets of Ponyville, humming a happy little tune to himself. He was on his way to the Ponyville Library to see Tenna. His thoughts turned a little darker when they turned to why Tenna had to spend the night at the library in the first place.

Shaking his head, he started humming again. It was too early in the morning to be thinking about that type of things. Besides, the library was up ahead. Walking up to the door, he knocked.

000

Twilight looked at Tenna, the look in the changeling’s eyes making Twilight feel such a deep empathy for her, she moved across the short distance between her and Tenna. Tentatively, she gave Tenna a hug, trying to comfort her sad friend.

A knock on the door distracted her, and with a jerk of her head, she conveyed to Spike that he should get that. Spike, who had just been sitting there awkwardly, nodded, glad to have an excuse to go do something.

Running up to the door, he opened it to a smiling Tech waving at the dragon.

000

Tech waved at the purple dragon, smiling.

“Oh, hi Spike! I was wondering if Tenna was awake yet?” Tech asked.

Spike froze. “Uh... Hi Tech.” He said, warily.

Tech picked up on Spike’s uneasiness. “Everything okay in there?”

“Um...Yes! No... Maybe?””

Tech raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Spike sighed. “Would you wait here a moment?” He asked.

Tech nodded, confusion apparent in his eyes. Spike closed the door halfway, before going back to the kitchen.

Tech stood there, his ears automatically picking up on the conversation going on in the library.

“Tech’s here Twilight.” He could hear Spike say.

Twilight sighed. “Let him in Spike.”

Tech nudged the door open with his nose, stepping inside, slightly.

“Everything okay?” He yelled out.

Spike came out of the kitchen, standing in the doorway.

“Didn’t I ask you to stay outside?” He said, crossing his arms.

“Isn’t this a public library?” Tech asked.

Spike opened his mouth to retort, before closing it. Finally, he smiled slightly, laughing at the joke.

“Touche.”

“Hey Tech, could you come here a moment?” Twilight called out.

Tech walked into the kitchen, and took a half step back at he took in the scene before him.

Tenna was crying into Twilight’s shoulder, with Twilight looking at Tech. Twilight was trying to convey that she needed help without saying anything.

Tech just looked back. He eventually mouthed ‘What did you do?’ at her, while his eyes narrowed slightly.

Twilight saw this and mouthed back. "It’s not what you think.” She then turned to Tenna. “Hey Tenna? I have to go talk to Tech for a moment, okay? Will you be alright by yourself?”

Tenna nodded.

“Okay. I’ll be right back.” Twilight said, before standing up and walking over to Tech. “Let’s talk in the main room.” She said, nodding her head towards the entry room of the library.

Once there, Tech gave Twilight a level stare. “What happened this time?” He asked, his voice low.

Twilight sighed. “It doesn’t make sense to me either. This morning things were going well, so I asked her some questions. When it came out that she didn’t remember anything, I thought that somebody had just blocked her memories.”

Tech gave her a confused look.

“Um... I thought she still had her memories, but her ability to access said memories was blocked by some sort of magic. It would’ve been a simple process to unblock them, giving them back to her.”

She sighed, before starting again. “The problem was that there were no memories. I can’t even begin to imagine the magical dexterity and power it would require to do a full wipe!”

“Twilight, this is a real pony we’re talking about, not a scenario. There is the real world, with real problems stemming from it.” Tech said, trying to make Twilight see the problem with it.

“I know... It pains me that I can’t do any more to help her. But without finding the unicorn that took her memories in the first place, we can’t get her memories back. The most I could do is piece some of the fragments together for her, but I think that would create more questions than it would solve.”

It was silent for a minute or two before Tech spoke up again.

“So... that’s what she’s upset about?”

Twilight nodded.

Tech sighed before perking up a little.

“Well, you know who always manages to make anyone smile?” Tech asked with a small one himself.

Twilight looked at him curiously. “Who?”

Tech stared at Twilight, before facehoofing. “Sorry, I forget you just moved here.”

Twilight nodded, before asking the question. “So, who is this pony.”

“I’ll give you a hint, she’s pink, and she’s impossible to understand.”

“Pinkie Pie?”

“Bingo. Come on. Have you been to Sugarcube Corner yet?” Tech asked, smiling again.

“No...?”

“Then it’s high time you went. I’ll go get Tenna.”

Twilight nodded again as Tech walked into the kitchen. Taking in the kitchen again, he smiled slightly. Tenna had moved from the floor to the to table, where she was playing with her oatmeal idly.

Tech moved up to her and put a hoof on her shoulder. Tenna jumped.

“Hey, hey, don’t worry. It’s just me.” He said, comfortingly.

Tenna turned around, smiling a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Hey Tech.”

“Hello. So... I, uh... heard about what happened.” Tech said awkwardly.

Tenna nodded.

“It doesn’t change my promise, okay?” He said,

Tenna looked at Tech with a small, sincere, smile this time.

Tech drew Tenna in for a quick hug, before dragging her to her feet.

“Come on, we’re going to go cheer you up!”

000

The walk over to Sugarcube Corner was fairly uneventful, with some small talk being exchanged the three ponies. Tenna was back into her grey pegasus persona, and was slowly becoming more comfortable around Ponyville, and around Twilight. By the time the trio made it over to the confectionary, Tenna was smiling and even laughing a little bit.

Pushing open the door with her magic, Twilight went through the door followed by Tenna, then Tech. A small bell rang to alert the owners that they had costumers.

“I’ll be out in a moment!” Said a mare in the back.

“No worries Mrs. Cake!”

Tech sat down at one of the tables, and gestured at Twilight and Tenna to do the same. Twilight sat down next to Tech, while Tenna sat across from them.

When all of a sudden, there was a loud *thumph* and suddenly Pinkie Pie was there, sitting next to Tenna. Tenna froze at the sudden intrusion of her personal space.

“Hi Twilight! Hi Tech! Hi Tenna! Oooohhh, I love what you did to your... everything! Sure it isn’t shiny and black, but it’s all gray-e and awesome!”

The group stared at Pinkie, mouths slack and eyes wide.

Tenna spoke up finally. “Ho-How did... wha?”

Pinkie giggled at Tenna before booping her in the nose softly.

“Silly Tenna. You may be completely above other ponies’ leagues, but even you can’t beat the master!” She said, pulling a moustache completely out of nowhere and attaching it to her nose.

Twilight sighed as Tech smiled.

Tenna laughed shyly.

Pinkie suddenly enveloped her in a hug. “There we go! We don’t want to see you frown like a grumpy McGrumpy Pants, now do we?” She said happily, her moustache hanging slightly off balance on her nose.

And as suddenly as Pinkie had appeared and had sat down next to Tenna, she was back up and leaning against the table with her two forelegs.

“Sooo, what can I get you guys! You’re here early, so I assume that you guys want something sweet, yet something filling for breakfast, right?”

She gasped suddenly, a glint in her eye showing something fun was going on in her mind.

“I know exactly what you need! Hang on a moment, and I’ll be back with Pinkie’s Patented Super Duper Breakfast Galore! It’s super-awesomely-amazing delicious!”

And with those fast spoken words, she disappeared with only a smoke outline and a puff of confetti to mark that the crazy pink pony was there at all.

Tenna turned towards the other two, her eyes conveying her confusion. Tech was trying to stifle his laughter and failing, while Twilight simply shrugged.

Then, as quickly as she disappeared, Pinkie was back, precariously balancing a platter of food on her nose, before somehow throwing it up onto the table.

“Here you go! Pinkie’s Patented-Mfph!” Pinkie started out, only for Twilight to stick her hoof up and stop Pinkie before she really got going.

“Thank you, Pinkie. It looks delicious.” She said, giving the platter of food an odd glance.

Tech and Tenna both laughed at this.

Pinkie nodded, before sitting down next to Tenna again.

“It’s a pancake made with actual cake mix! It’s got the fluffy texture of a pancake, with the taste of a cake! And then you’ve got syrup that’s extra sweet! And for the fruit part of your healthy-” Tech and Tenna grinned, while Twilight’s eye twitched slightly.”- breakfast, we have some super amazing apples right from Sweet Apple Acres!”

She finished her super fast talking not even out of breath, smiling at the group.

“Uh... That certainly sounds... fun, Pinkie.” Twilight said slowly, before levitating her fork and cutting a piece off of hers. She stared at it for a moment before popping it in her mouth.

Pinkie was watching her every reaction, holding her breath a little.

Twilight chewed and swallowed, smiling.

“So?” Pinkie asked.

“It was pretty good Pinkie! It isn’t like anything else I’ve had before.”

Pinkie’s smile grew even bigger at that.

“Thank you!”

Tech shrugged and dug in, demolishing his pancake at an amazing speed.

Tenna tentatively looked at hers, poking it with a fork. She was just about to try it when all of a sudden Pinkie gasped again, causing Tenna to jump and drop her fork on the plate.

“OhmygoshTenna! You never showed up to the party! That means that I’m going to have to go plan another whole “Welcome to Ponyville” party! Not that I mind planning parties! Oh, we could have it up at the Apple’s barn, and we could invite the entire town! There’ll be balloons, streamers, and music!” Pinkie said, listing off things that she would need for the party.

Tenna froze. “Ev-everyone?” She asked timidly, nervously tapping the table with her hooves.

Pinkie nodded vigorously. “Uh-huh! Otherwise how would it be a super duper amazingly awesome party for you to meet other ponies?”

Tech picked up on what was happening.

“Maybe the party should just be a few ponies Pinkie. A small group can has as much fun as a large group can, right?”

Pinkie put a hoof to her chin. “Welllll, I suppose you’re right Tech! But it’s up to Tenna!” She turned to Tenna suddenly. “Would you rather a large party, or a small one?”

Tenna stopped tapping, and looked a Pinkie for a moment before responding.

“A-a small party please.” She said, before turning back to her pancakes and finally managing to eat a piece. Smiling, she turned to Pinkie again.

“Th-this is really good! Th-thank you.”

Pinkie nodded quickly. “Okay then! I’ll invite just a few ponies!” She suddenly looked up at the clock on the wall.

“Ohmygosh, the muffins! Ditzy's going to kill me if they burn! Sorry guys, but I’ve gotta go!” She said quickly, before bolting from the booth and up the stairs.

Tech rolled his eyes. “Welp, that’s Pinkie for you.” He said, as he pushed his plate away from him. “I’m done.”

Twilight looked over at him in surprise. “Already?” She asked. “I’m barely halfway through with mine.

Tenna looked at her own plate, which she had barely started.

Tech just shrugged. “I was hungry. Didn’t get a chance for breakfast this morning.” He said simply.

Twilight nodded and went back to her own pancakes, with Tenna doing the same.

‘All things considered’ thought Tech. ‘It’s been a pretty good morning.’

He looked over at the grey pegasus sitting across from him, and the purple unicorn sitting next to him.

And smiled.

Life had gotten very interesting in such a short amount of time.

Author's Note

Another week, another chapter. This time it's coming from a slightly more Tech point of view. Sorry for taking a slightly long time on this, I managed to get myself distracted by writing something related to this, and a game called Marathon: Eternal.
It hurts my brain.

Anyway, back to this. Thanks to Chessboard_Jack for the help! I know he thinks he doesn't do much, but don't let that fool you! He's, like, 70% of the reason this gets done.

Next chapter should get some plot going.

Checkup Time!

Applejack looked at Tenna, suddenly putting a hoof on the table the she was sharing lunch with Tenna with. It had been about a week since Tenna had had breakfast with Tech and Twilight, and ever since then Applejack had sensed something... off about the grey pegasus.

“You okay hun? You’ve seemed a bit off ever since you spent the night at Twilight’s. Everything okay?”

Tenna looked up at the unexpected conversation, before looking back down at her food, nodding. “Ye-yeah, I’m fine. Everything is just... fine.” She lied.

Applejack just stared at her. “Sugarcube, you’re looking at the element of honesty. Ya can’t lie to me.”

Tenna nodded, not trusting herself to say anything.

Applejack shook her head slightly, putting her hoof over Tenna’s. “Tenna, you’ve been here almost two weeks now. One of these days you’re going to finally figure out you can trust me.” She said softly.

Tenna nodded again, still not saying anything.

The orange mare sighed. “Tenna, I’m serious about you not looking too good. Maybe you should go to the doctors.” She said, smiling at Tenna softly, conveying a look of concern across.

Tenna suddenly looked up, fear flashing across her face. “N-no, I’m fine. I do-don’t need to go to the doctors.” She insisted.

“Tenna, are you afraid to go to the doctors?” Applejack asked.

She shook her head violently. “N-no! I’m not afraid! And I don’t n-need to go to the doc-doctors.”

“Tenna, when was the last time you even went to the doctors?” Applejack asked, sensing that there was something being unsaid.

Tenna stood up suddenly. “Well, thanks for the lunch Applejack, but I promised Twilight that I would help out in the library this afternoon.” She said, moving towards the door in the kitchen, except for Applejack was already there.

“Woah there. Tenna, you’re going to the doctors, if only to get a checkup. I have a feeling that you’re long overdue.”

Tenna looked at Applejack, trying to judge her chances of getting around her.

Applejack just raised her eyes at her. “Do you really think that’ll work?”

Tenna looked past her, at the open door that Applebloom had probably left open, one last shred of hope in her mind.

She went for the open door, trying for freedom.

000

Applejack trotted through town, ignoring the looks she got from the ponies in the market square. She smiled and waved at them, and they just rolled their eyes and laughed. She continued on in this fashion until she spotted a very familiar blue pegasus flying down from the cloudline.

“Hey Applejack! What’s up- Uh... AJ. You do realize you have Tenna tied up on your back, right?” She asked, a confused look on her face.

Applejack nodded. “Yeah, I do. Tenna here is going to the doctor’s. She’s been off all week, and Ah’m worried about her health.”

The confused look on Dash’s face didn’t leave. “Then why...?”

Applejack chuckled at her expression. “Well, Tenna here didn’t want to have a checkup. So Ah’m taking her anyway.” She said, shrugging slightly.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. ”Only you Applejack.” She said, while shaking her head slightly. “Anyway, I just wanted to warn you that we had to schedule an unexpected storm this afternoon, so be home by then. This one’s gonna be a doozy.”

Applejack nodded. “Thanks for the warning Dash. I’ll be sure to get ready.” She said. “I’ll talk to you later then.” She turned and began to walk down the street.

Tenna lifted her head and looked at Rainbow Dash with pleading eyes. “Please help me...” She said, desperation in her voice.

Rainbow Dash shook her head and laughed. “I’m sorry Tenna, but when Applejack get’s out the rope, there ain’t nothing that can be done to help. Trust me on that.”

Tenna let out a small whimper as she hung her head again.

“How’d she end up like that anyway?” Rainbow asked, gesturing to Tenna again.

Applejack shook her head as she remembered the strange turn of events that had led up to it.

“Tenna, don’t even think about it.” Applejack warned, seeing the look in her eyes. She didn’t know why Tenna was afraid of the doctor, but it had to be something big for it to be this bad.

Tenna didn’t respond, sizing up her options. Her stance changing as she prepared to bolt forward. Applejack saw this and got ready to stop her.

Tenna suddenly burst forward and ran towards the orange mare, who just stood there, ready to take the brunt of the force, until Tenna did something unexpected.

Tenna ducked down and slid underneath the farmer into freedom, stumbling to her feet and running out the door. Applejack stared after her for a few seconds, her mind trying to piece together what had just happened.

When her mind caught up with current events, she sighed and called out to Applebloom. “Get mah rope Applebloom! Ah gots a pony to catch!”

She could hear some noises coming from upstairs, followed by hooves coming down to the first floor. Tossing the rope to her sister, Applebloom looked up at her sister.

“Who do ya have ta catch Applejack?” She asked.

“Somepony needs to go to the doctor’s office.” Applejack mumbled around the rope in her mouth, before running out the door after the grey streak going down the orchard road.

After running hard and almost catching up, she dropped one end of the rope and started swinging it around, the lasso end coming up. With a fancy flick of her rope, she sent it flying towards the unaware Tenna.

Latching onto her leg, Applejack gave a slight tug, tightening it around the leg, and started to drag the unwilling pony towards her.

“Let me go!” Tenna cried out, trying to kick the rope off her hind leg while trying to run.

“No can do sugarcube. We’ve got a doctor’s appointment to make.” Applejack said, reeling the pegasus in.

Applejack just looked at Rainbow Dash and sighed. “It’s a long story. How about I tell you tonight when the girls go out for dinner?” She asked.

“Oh yeah! I had completely forgotten about that. Sounds like a plan!”

The lump on Applejack’s back spoke up moodily. “I’m glad my pain and misfortune is funny to you girls.” She said, before falling back into silence.

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Well, ya should have thought about that before trying to run away after I had already caught you.” She replied back while Rainbow Dash tried to hide her laughter. All Applejack got in response was a slight kick to the back of her head.

“Hey, none of that, ya hear?” She said. “Well, I gotta go Rainbow. See ya tonight.”

As Dash took off into the sky again, Applejack turned back towards her destination.

The Ponyville General Medical Office. Tenna gulped as the building came into view.

000

The secretary looked up from her desk as a bell rang, signifying that another patient had just entered. She jumped a little in her seat and dropped her pen she had been holding in her magic. Pushing her glasses back up and regaining her composure, she looked towards the farmer.

“Uh, Applejack, I’m afraid I have to ask why you have a pony tied up on your back.” She said, nodding her head towards Tenna.

“She’s tied up to prevent any harm coming to her or anypony in the streets while coming here.” Applejack said, her face completely straight.

Tenna took this time to kick out her legs and struggle some more. “I-I wouldn’t hurt anypony!” She cried out, kicking Applejack in the back of her head again. Applejack just gave the secretary a stare. “See?”

She nodded slowly. “Okay then. Do you have an appointment?” She said, picking up some papers in her magic.

Applejack shook her head. “Ah’m afraid ah don’t. It was sorta a spur of the moment thing.”

She nodded again. “Well, I’ll tell the doctor that...” She paused, giving the pony on Applejack’s back a look of pity.

“She’s-” Applejack started, but was interrupted by another kick.

“I-I can tell her myself!” Tenna said stubbornly. “My name is Tenna.” She said as she tried to get free again, only managing to fall to the floor.

“Ouchie...” She squeaked.

The secretary nodded again. “Well, I’ll tell the doctor that Applejack is here with Tenna. Take a seat and she’ll be with you as soon as possible.”

“Thank you kindly.” Applejack said, reaching over and grabbing Tenna off the floor and depositing her in the chair next to where she was going to sit.

Tenna looked over at Applejack with a glare of death.

“When I get out of here...I... I’m...” She said, leaving the threat hanging.

Applejack shrugged. “Well, you’ll have to be the one to explain why I’m dead.” She said, giving Tenna a grin.

Tenna let out a small squeak of discomfort, and set her sights on trying to chew through the rope.

Applejack rolled her eyes. “That ain’t going ta work hun.”

Both sets of eyes suddenly looked up as the door to the doctor’s office burst open and a familiar green pony came flying through the doors.

“Applejack! Rainbow Dash said somepony had tied up Tenna and...” Tech took in the scene in front of him. Applejack sitting in a chair grinning widely, Tenna glaring daggers at her. Tenna suddenly looked at Tech, her expression turning into one of pleading.

“Tech, help me! She’s crazy! Get me out of here, please!” Tenna cried, begging Tech to help her.

The secretary looked up from her paperwork, before immediately looking down again, grinning slightly.

“Uh...” Was Tech’s only response for a minute, as he switched his gaze from Tenna to Applejack, and repeating the cycle again. Tenna looked pitiful, and did honestly seem a little scared, but Applejack...

Applejack had that look on her face that could only be interpreted as ‘Boy, I will tie you up next to her.’

Tech shook his head quickly. “Sorry Tenna. I may be friends with you, but Applejack isn’t above tying me up and sending my back to my parent’s via Ditzy Doo.” Tech shuddered as he remembered.

Applejack laughed at his reaction. “Oh, Tech, you were a small one back then, weren’t you.”

Tenna looked at Applejack, new fear in her eyes. Trying to scoot away from the crazy mare, she only succeeded in falling on her face again.

Tech started to back up through the still open doors. “Well, uh... I’ll see you later tonight then Tenna!” He said quickly as he rushed through the door.

Tenna rolled over to her side, crying out in desperation. “Nooo! Tech, don’t leave me! You can’t leave me with this crazy pony!” She yelled at the retreating figure. She struggled before her expression turned angry. “Tech! You traitor!”

Applejack just shook her head in amusement, catching the eye of the secretary again. She had a look of utter confusion on her face. Applejack shrugged and spoke up so she could hear her.

“Kids these days. Whatcha goin’ ta do?” She said, which earned her another kick from the Tenna lying on the floor.

“I-I am not a kid! I‘m seventeen years old!” She shouted at Applejack.

Applejack was full on laughing by this point.

Tenna just pouted on the floor.

And this was the scene the nurse walked in on.

000

Applejack walked into the examination room, setting Tenna down on the exam chair.

Still tied up.

“Why am I still tied up Applejack!” Tenna complained loudly.

“Oh, hush you. You’re the one who went and tried to avoid this.”

“Because I’m fine!” Tenna retorted.

“I’ll let the doctor be the one to decide that.” Applejack said, sitting on one of the other chairs in the room.

The nurse nodded. “Of course. I am going to have to insist that she be untied. Her being in a restrained position would make mine and the doctor’s job more difficult. I am Nurse Red Cross, and you are...” She asked.

“Ten-Tenna.”

Red Cross nodded. “So, Applejack, would you untie her?”

Applejack shrugged. “Ah don’t see why Ah couldn’t, if she’ll promise not to run outta here.”

Tenna just stared at Applejack, her eyes conveying a hidden anger.

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Fine. Be that way, but Ah’m keeping my eye on you.” She said, going up to her and pulling on the rope in such a fashion that it all unraveled and lay around Tenna in a small pile. Tenna looked at the rope in disbelief and then up at Applejack.

Applejack smiled.

“It-It was that easy?” Tenna asked, her voice struggling to remain calm.

The orange mare nodded.

Red Cross smiled reassuringly, before turning around and getting some equipment out for the preliminary examination. She muttered their names to herself to make sure she had gotten it all.

“Let’s see... thermometer, stethoscope...” The list went on, but Tenna had stopped listening.

It was that thing. Red Cross had called it a stethoscope, but Tenna knew otherwise.

It was designed to remove ponies eyeballs.

Her own pair widened in fear, and her brain kicked into overtime. Red Cross had left the door open, but Applejack was sitting right next to it. Maybe if she were to surprise Applejack, she might make it. Tech would help her hide, right?

Shifting slightly, Tenna readied herself to jump.

Applejack notices Tenna tensing up, and smiles slightly.

‘So predictable.’

Tenna launched herself at the open door, her wings flapping to gain some extra speed. She slammed into the other side of the hallway, and took off down the hall, fear fueling her escape.

Applejack was immediately out of her chair grabbing her rope and was out into the hallway too, swinging it into a lasso. Tenna, who looked behind her for a moment, saw this and made a sudden left turn, down another hallway.

Applejack threw the lasso down the hallway, where staff and patients alike had come out to see what was causing the noise, were stunned to see the lasso turn ninety degrees and continue to follow Tenna.

Tenna had slowed down, trying to figure out where she was in relation to the exit, and was surprised to feel the sudden tug of something on both of her hind legs. Eyes widening in shock, she let out a cry of despair as she felt herself being drug backwards along the floor. Twisting her body around, she tried to gnaw her way through the rope before she was dragged back into sight.

She had given up by the time Applejack had dragged her back to the exam room, the door shut this time. Tenna, however, was refusing to get on the exam table, and was cowering in the corner, covering her eyes.

Red Cross looked at Applejack, who just shrugged silently. Walking over to Tenna, she put a hoof on her shoulder, trying to calm her down. But instead of calming her down, it had the opposite effect.

“They’re my eyes! You can’t have them!” Tenna shouted, squishing her eyes shut and jerking away from the touch.

“Yer eyes...?” Applejack own eyes widened as the realization hit her before she facehoofed. “Tenna, nopony here wants yer eyes!” She said in exasperation.

Tenna just scrunched her eyes harder and shook her head. “Nuh-uh. I-I’m not opening my eyes.” She said defiantly.

Applejack looked at Red Cross, who had a slightly amused, yet slightly exasperated expression on her face. The farmer smiled at her with an embarrassed smile, before turning back to Tenna.

“Land-sakes girl, you act like you’ve never been to the doctors office before.

“...”

Applejack was surprised yet again as she came to the realization that the grey pegasus indeed had never been to a doctor before.

Speaking slowly, she shook her head in wonder. “Tenna, the longer I know you, the less sense you make, ya know that?”

“I’m still not opening my eyes.” Tenna said stubbornly.

Applejack racked her brain for anything that might help get this over with. The only thing she could think of would be what she used to have to do with Applebloom, who was scared stiff of the doctors.

“Tenna, would you let Nurse Red Cross examine you if she does it to me first?” Applejack asked.

Red Cross smiled at AJ’s words, she remembered this trick from Applebloom’s old visits.

Tenna slowly took her hooves off her eyes and opened them slowly and warily, ready to snap them shut at the mere sight of the dreaded... ‘stethoscope’.

Applejack smiled. It was progress.

“What?”

“Would you be willing to let Red Cross look at you if she also takes a look at me? That way you know that she isn’t going to do anything nasty to ya.” Applejack explained.

Tenna stared at Applejack suspiciously. “Why would you do that?”

Applejack sighed while still smiling. “Because ah want to get home before the storm hits, and that ain’t happening with you in the floor.”

Tenna looked at Applejack, and then at Red Cross, who was smiling placidly. Tenna made her decision and slowly stood up. “Well... Okay. I-I’d be willing to do that.”

Applejack smiled, a genuine smile this time.

‘Finally.’ She thought to herself.

000

Applejack sat on the exam table, Tenna sitting right next to her, and Red Cross was playing along with AJ’s plan. Currently the nurse was taking Applejack’s blood pressure, the cuff on Applejack’s foreleg squeezing her slightly as Red Cross glanced at the dial.

“Well, whatever it is you do in your off season Applejack hasn’t stopped you from having one of the best blood pressure I’ve ever seen.” She complimented.

The orange mare smiled. “Thanks. Can’t have me getting soft before apple bucking season.”

Taking off the cuff with her magic, Red Cross turned towards Tenna, who stiffened and grabbed Applejack’s forearm. Applejack just rolled her eyes, but suffered through the other mare’s surprisingly tight grip.

Tenna watched the cuff float towards her, stiffening up as the nurse slid it around her forearm, securing the velcro. The glow left, and Tenna looked with extreme apprehension at the cuff.

And then it started to tighten as Red Cross squeezed something in her magic. Tenna breath started to hitch.

The pressure. It was too much. It was going to cut off circulation in her forearm. And then she wouldn’t be able to walk right, and she’d have to get a cane and then she’d have to hobble-

“Tenna.”

-everywhere and then everypony would laugh at her and she would-

“Tenna, it’s over.”

-have to hide away in a cave in the Everfree, wait what?

Tenna looked down at her arm, where the nurse was pulling the cuff off. Tenna sighed in relief, before getting a look at where the cuff had been.

Shiny black.

She looked up at Red Cross and Applejack to see if they had noticed it, and to her relief, they hadn’t. Glancing back down at it, she concentrated, her cheeks puffing out. It quickly turned back into the grey coat that she had grown to live with.

She looked back up Applejack, and her breath caught as she saw Applejack looking at her arm with a raised eye. Tenna forced herself to start breathing normally and smile nervously at the farmer as Applejack looked up at Tenna, the question on her lips.

“Tenna, did you see-” She started, but was interrupted by Nurse Red Cross holding a thermometer.

“Time to take your temperature.” She said. Tenna looked at the device with some suspicion. Applejack sighed as she saw the inevitable. Opening her mouth, she let the nurse stick the thermometer before closing it.

The nurse hummed a small little tune while waiting for it to finish it’s job.

*beep*

The nursed smiled, taking it out and glancing at the small screen.

“Slightly above normal, but that’s expected this time of year.” She said while disinfecting it. Wiping it off, she turned to Tenna, who slowly opened her mouth. Red Cross floated it over, putting in her mouth.

She looked at Applejack, the thermometer still floating in Red Cross’s magic. Applejack snickered at the look on Tenna’s face.

“Ya gotta close your mouth, sugarcube.”

Tenna blushed, closing her mouth quickly. The magic disappeared, leaving it hanging there.

*Beep*

Taking it back out, she smiled. “Well Tenna. It seems your temperature is completely normal. Now, just one more exam. We have check your heart.”

She put the thermometer back on the counter, and brought up the thing that Tenna had been dreading the most about this visit.

The stethoscope.

Tenna tried to shrink, but failing that, she just tried to hide next to Applejack.

“Tenna, the stethoscope isn’t going to be going anywhere near yer head!”

Tenna glanced at the stethoscope again, her fears being alleviated bit by bit, but not completely.

“O-okay.”

Tenna felt Applejack scoot away from Tenna, the orange mare sitting up straighter. The nurse levitated the hook end of the stethoscope towards her head, sticking the pieces in her ears, before levitating the other end towards Applejack. Despite Applejack’s assurances, Tenna’s breath still hitched as it got closer to her friend.

And then in touched her, and nothing happened. Red Cross seemed to be concentrating on something, and Applejack just sat there. Tenna looked at this strange scene for a moment, before shaking her head slightly.

“Take a deep breath.” Red Cross said to Applejack, to which she complied. Redheart moved the stethoscope to a different part of AJ’s chest, to which Applejack responded with another deep breath.

Red Cross nodded, before taking the stethoscope off of Applejack’s chest. “Your heart seems as fit as ever, Applejack.” She said with a slight hint of amusement.

Applejack snorted. “Working in the fields will do that to ya, Red”

Red Cross laughed softly, before turning her attention to Tenna. “Okay Tenna. Let’s take a look at you.”

Tenna’s breath hitched again, even though she had seen the stethoscope being used before.

Red Cross rolled her eyes in amusement, before slowly approaching the shivering mare.

The stethoscope approached Tenna, and she stared at it until she couldn’t anymore, shutting her eyes. She jumped slightly at the contact of the cold metal on her fur.

Red Cross held it there for a few seconds, before asking Tenna to breath deeply. Tenan complied, taking a shaky breath and letting it out in one big expulsion of air.

Red Cross moved the stethoscope again, and Tenna took another breath and let it out, this time a little bit more steady.

Tenna felt the stethoscope move again.

“Last time. One more deep breath.”

Tenna took another one, held it for a moment, and let it out. This time it was completely calm.

Tenna opened her eyes to see Red Cross smiling at her. “Now. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Tenna slowly shook her head no, before asking a question that was on her mind.

“Mrs. Red Cross? Wh-what does that thing do?” She asked, her voice quiet.

Red Cross took the stethoscope off, and slipped it around Tenna’s neck.

“Why don’t I show you?” She asked kindly.

Tenna nodded.

“Okay, I’m just going to put these in your ears.” Red Cross said, before going and doing just that. Tenna jumped a little at the close proximity of the stethoscope to her head, but settled down when it didn’t jump and try to eat her eyeballs.

“Now, watch this.” Red Cross said, grinning. She lifted up the free end of the stethoscope and pressed it against her chest.

Ba-dum, Ba-dum, Ba-dum.

Tenna’s head jerked before she realized that she wasn’t being hurt.

She looked up at Red Cross, a questioning look on her face. Red Cross smiled as she removed the end from her chest, and Applejack laughed silently nearby.

“That, Tenna, would be the sound of my heart.”

Tenna’s face lit up in wonder, as she grabbed the stethoscope and pressed it to her own chest, her old fear of the piece of equipment long forgotten.

Ba-bump, Ba-bump, Ba-bump.

Tenna giggled, so caught up in the amazing thing that was a stethoscope, that she didn’t even notice the two adults talking.

“So, what’d the prelim say?” Applejack said.

Red Cross sighed. “To be honest, I don’t think that having the Doctor come in and examining Tenna would even be needed. She’s as fit as anyone else.”

Applejack smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. “Eh heh, I guess maybe I was out of line bringing her in here like that.”

Red Cross patted Applejack on the back, smiling. “No, you were worried about her. If any of my cousins were acting strange, I’d have done the same.”

Applejack thanked her, before something hit her about what Red Cross had said. “Oh-ho-ho-no. We ain’t related at all Red Cross. She’s just living with us while... while...” Applejack stopped. Thinking about it, Applejack wasn’t sure if Tenna had ever told her what she was doing in Ponyville.

“Well, if you aren’t related, you two sure act like it. Come to the front desk, and we can get this finished with.” Red Cross said, leaving before Applejack could reply to that remark.

Applejack stopped to think for a moment, glancing at the grey pegasus playing with the stethoscope, her attention completely enraptured by the simple device. The look of joy on her face was enough to make a smile come to Applejack’s face.

Maybe the nurse wasn’t so wrong after all.

000

The rain splattered against the glass near the group of girls that had gathered in one of Ponyville’s many restaurants ‘Hay! Burgers!’.

And they were having a fun time, currently laughing so hard some of them had tears in their eyes.

“You’re kidding! You’re telling me that Tenna was afraid of a stethoscope!?” Rainbow said, laughing harder than the rest of the group, her hoof smacking the table.

Applejack nodded, shaking from keeping some laughter inside.

“She said something about her eyes? Ah think that she thought that it was going to hurt her eyes?”

Rarity let out a dainty giggle. “Well, I hope that she learns that nothing is going to hurt her here. I wonder where she came from before she came to Ponyville, as she seems to not know about a majority of things that make life civilized. Why, just the other day I caught her looking at my eyelash curler like it was from another planet!”

Applejack had stopped listening by this point. Twilight had stopped smiling for a moment before regaining her composure.

Applejack picked up on that. The sad frown, ears slightly down, eyes worried were all there before Twilight had covered it up, throwing herself back into Rarity’s story with more gusto than it required.

Applejack smiled. Maybe, just maybe, she could get some answers from Twilight.

And with luck they wouldn’t make more questions than they answered.

Author's Note

Hey guys! Long time no see, eh? New chapter is here!
It was supposed to be a serious, serious chapter, but that didn't happen. Chessboard and I were laughing hard while writing this one out. Also, I'm sorry. I said plot started this chapter, but instead it was just a prelude, or setup if you will.
Also, longest chapter!

And a word from our sponsor, Chessboard_Jack!
"Thanks for getting this story up to 100 likes, you guys are awesome!"

Should've Added More Stamps

“Twilight.” Applejack said.

She had been standing in the library for about five minutes, while Twilight scurried around, picking books off the shelves and flipping through them, before adding them to a pile.

Twilight grabbed another book in her magic, glancing at the title before looking at Applejack. “Sorry Applejack, I’m just working on a problem that has me a little stumped.”

Applejack nodded, glancing at the pile of books that had amassed at the side of the purple unicorn. “Well, ah’d say it has you more than a little stumped.”

Twilight leveled a stare at Applejack, before nodding grudgingly.

“Well, I have a little problem of my own. I know that I should trust yours and Tech’s judgement, but what do we really know about her?”

Twilight lowered the book looking over it at Applejack. “Wh-why would you say that? I mean, you trusted me when I got here, and you didn’t even know me.”

Applejack sighed and chewed her bottom lip for a moment. “Well... I saw something strange in the doctor’s office when I went with her. Her arm... It was black Twi. Black and shiny, like what Rainbow said was in town on the day of the Summer Sun Celebration.”

Twilight’s magic cut off and the book fell to the ground with a ‘thud’, Twilight’s eyes growing big.

“Well... That is weird. But are you sure?” Twilight said nervously.

Applejack noted this, looking at her with a curious gaze.

“Twilight, do you know something about this?”

Twilight shook her head rapidly. “No!”

Applejack just looked at Tenna and then at the books.

“Would the black thing that came into town a month ago be your problem?”

Twilight shook her head again. “No. This is a... memory problem.”

“You? Have a memory problem?” Applejack asked, slightly disbelieving.

“No... It’s for a friend.” Twilight said, picking back up the book slowly and reshelving it.

Applejack shook her head a little, but let the subject drop.

“Twilight... well... I’ll trust you on this one.” She said, answering the unspoken conversation that had been going on.

Twilight looked up, smiling. “Thanks Applejack. Now... I don’t suppose that you know anything about memory spells?”

Applejack chuckled softly before answering. “Nope, I sure don’t sugarcube. Looks like you’re alone in this one.”

Twilight sighed good naturedly, but smiled too. “Well, is that all that you needed Applejack?”

The orange mare shook her head. “Nah. I was just... over-reacting.”

Twilight laughed at this. “At least I’m not the only one. Do you want something to drink? I’ve got to take a break from this or I’m going to go nuts.”

Applejack nodded. “I’ve got a while before I’ve got to be back at the farm. Rarity’s watching the Cutie Mark Crusaders today so that’s covered.”

“But Rarity! You promised!” Sweetie Belle whined at her sister.

Rarity sighed. “Yes, I know I did that Sweetie Belle. But I’m afraid that this order from Canterlot arrived late due to the mail system here in Ponyville, and it’s due tomorrow. I just can’t afford to look after you and your friends today. Can’t you go to the farm?” She asked, sounding slightly desperate.

“No.” Sweetie said, looking slightly morose. “Applebloom said that the clubhouse was damaged in the last storm, and she still needs to fix it.”

“Well, uh... Could you go crusading around town for the day? I’d make it up to you tomorrow. I promise.” She said, sounding genuinely sorry for the mix-up.

“Well... I guess. But after our last round, you and Applejack said we’d need a chap... chapa...” She said, struggling with the word.

“Chaperone, dear.”

“Yeah, that!” Sweetie said, her voice squeaking slightly.

“Well, we did say that... didn’t we...” Rarity sighed.

The doorbell rang downstairs. Sweetie looked at the sound, while Rarity’s mind raced.

“That’s... them isn’t it?”

Sweetie nodded.

“Well, I’ll at least tell them myself that I can’t do what I promised.”

She walked downstairs, Sweetie following close behind. The door handle glowed in Rarity’s cyan magic, and it opened to reveal two excited fillies behind it.

“Hi Rarity!” They chorused together.

Rarity’s heart melted.

“Hi girls... I’m afraid I have some bad news...” She said slowly.

They watched her, their faces showing some sadness, but unsure of what was happening.

“I can’t watch you today. I have a big order. But you can go crusading around town, right?”

Applebloom and Scootaloo nodded.

“Aaannnddd.... to watch you...” Rarity said, looking around and stalling for time. “Is Tech! Tech dear! I have a favor to ask of you!”

Tech’s ears perked up as he was walking by the Carousel Boutique, as he heard his name. Glancing around, his eyes wandering for the source, landing on Rarity and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Eyeing them warily, he walked up to them.

“Hey girls, hello Rarity. What’s up?” He asked, grinning at them slightly.

Rarity cleared her throat before starting. “Well Tech... I need to ask a huge favor of you! The girls want to go crusading today, but I can’t watch them, and I don’t know where Applejack is. Would you watch them and make sure they stay out of trouble. Please?”

Tech sighed, rubbing his hoof on the back of his head awkwardly. “I don’t know Rarity... I did promise the parental units that I would help them out today.”

Rarity sighed. “Of course. Girls, I’m afraid that unless you can find someone to watch you soon, then you’ll have to call it off...”

Tech nodded sadly, before slowly starting to back away from the trio of fillies.

Then, as if sensing weakness, they turned to him.

“Tech, please?” Sweetie asked, her voice sad.

“We’ve been planning this for days!” Scootaloo added.

“Plllleeeaaasssseee?”” Applebloom said, her eyes growing big and a sad look appearing on her face.

Tech made the tragic mistake of looking behind him.

Seeing the three fillies there with their faces looking so sad, Tech stumbled. His resolve breaking, he turned around and tried to make one last run for it, but ended up running into Tenna.

Both the pony and the changeling made surprised noises.

Tenna groaned, and started to move and get up. “Gah. Tech, when I was hoping to run into you around town, this isn’t what I had in mind.

Quickly getting back up, Tech grabbed Tenna and helped her up. Whirling her to face a away from the Cutie Mark Crusaders, he whispered in her ear.

“Don’t turn around.”

Tenna immediately turned around and saw the three fillies with their sad faces. Tech, seeing this sighs.

“I told you not to turn around!” He hisses at her. Tenna looks at him.

“What’s going on?”

“They need a watcher for the day.”

“And?”

“I can’t! I can barely look after myself some days! I can’t look after three fillies!”

“Tech, you’re sixteen. I’m pretty sure that you can handle three fillies.” Tenna said, trying to convince him.

“Three fillies, yes. Those three fillies? No.”

“Tech.”

“I can’t Tenna!”

“Well, they look so sad...” Tenna said, glancing behind her again. It was almost as if she could feel their sadness.

“Well, why don’t you do it?” Tech asked.

Tenna opened her mouth to respond. And then she closed it.

She tried again. “I-I can’t look after three fillies!”

“Tenna, that’s my line. Besides, I literally can’t do. My parents are expecting me to go help them out around the store today.” He said, giving Tenna a beseeching look. “Besides, you’re seventeen, right? Go for it, and if they give you a hard time just bring them back to Rarity.”

“Tech, d-do you really think I-I can? I-I mean-”

“Tenna you’re stuttering, which means you’re scared. Don’t be. They’re just fillies. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?”

The universe suddenly awoke; a challenge having been issued.

Tenna shuddered, as a cold feeling seemed to have flowed over her. But ask quickly as it had started, it was over.

Smiling at Tech, she nodded slowly. “Y-Yeah, I-I guess so.”

“Besides, those little fillies will love you! You’re so much fun!”

Tenna smiled shyly at him. Tech smiled back at her, before looking away, blushing slightly.

“Thanks Tech. No-now lets make some fillies happy.” Tenna said, walking towards the door.

Tech watched her, smiling and shaking his head slightly. Glancing at the clock tower, he cursed and sped off towards his parent’s shop.

Tenna knocked on the door of the shop, before her courage left her. She heard a commotion inside.

“Sweetie Belle, would you get that dear?”

“Yeah.” Sweetie said, not sounding very enthusiastic. Hoofsteps followed this, coming to a stop in front of the door right before it opened. Sweetie Belle stared at Tenna for a moment.

Tenna waved nervously. “Could... I-I... ah... talk to Rarity?”

Sweetie Belle slowly nodded. Without turning away, she called upstairs. “RARITY! TENNA’S HERE TO SEE YOU!”

Tenna flinched at the loud sound, smiling nervously. For such a small filly, she sure was loud.

“Tenna? What are you doing here?” Rarity said, appearing in the doorway suddenly.

“Well... I-I sorta ran into Tech a-and he said that you needed somepony t-to watch the Cutie Mark Crusaders?” Tenna said, her tone of voice making it seem like a question.

Rarity’s eyes grew big. “Tenna! Are you saying that you would watch the darlings for me today?” Rarity said, disbelief in her voice. For the past month since Tenna seemed to have been made a permanent resident of Sweet Apple Acres and she had barely seen her. Tenna seemed to be a bit of a... loner, or recluse.

“Well... ye-yeah?”

Rarity quickly hugged Tenna. “Thank you thank you thank you! Now I can get some work done today!”

Quickly, she was inside and had pushed the three fillies outside. “I’ll be done around three o’clock, if you want to bring them bye then! Thanks Tenna!” Rarity said, shutting the door.

Tenna stared at the door for a moment or two, her mind suddenly seeming to catch up with her actions.

Turning to look at the fillies, she tried to put on a smile that didn’t show how worried she was inside.

It didn’t work. The fillies glanced at her, before turning to each other.

“What are we going to do today, Sweetie Belle?”

“The same thing we do every day Scootaloo. Try take over the world!”

Tenna blinked at this. “U-uh... what?”

They turned to her again. “We’re going to try to get our cutie marks!”

Applebloom piped up at this point. “Yeah, ah know that. But what specifically?”

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle smiled. “Are you pondering what I’m pondering, Scootaloo?”

“I think so Sweetie Belle, but what does having a back-flip contest have to do with getting our cutie marks?”

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle facehoofed.

“No... Scootaloo... wha? Where would ya even...” Applebloom said, her right eye twitching slightly.

“U-uh, can w-we do something a little more… safe?”

“Don’t worry Tenna! We’re doing something completely safe!” Sweetie Belle said, smiling brightly at the her.

Scootaloo interrupted then. “You still haven’t told us what exactly it was that you had an idea for.”

Sweetie smiled. “Well, you know how Rarity couldn’t watch us today?”

The other two nodded.

“Well, it was because the mail in Ponyville is so behind that the mail is getting delivered a day or two late. I figured that if we helped Derpy then the mail could be caught up!”

Applebloom and Scootaloo smiled at this. “That could work!”

All of them turned and put a hoof in the air. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS MAILPONIES GO!”

Tenna winced again, the loud voices of the fillies causing her to flinch from the loud pain.

“Uh... Shouldn’t we a-ask Derpy first? I-I mean it is h-her job.”

“Welll, I suppose you’re right! If we hurry, we should be able to catch her before she leaves for work!”

“Yay!”

The fillies grinned at each other and turned around, heading straight to Derpy’s house.

Tenna sighed softly, before taking off after the three fillies that were running down the street, dodging around all the ponies in the street. Tenna rushed through the already disgruntled crowd, throwing apologizes behind her.

“Girls! Wait up!” Tenna called after them, slightly out of breath. They didn’t seem to hear her or just ignored her.

Tenna was extremely grateful when they stopped in front of a simple two story house, waiting for her to catch up.

“Well, this is Derpy’s house!” Sweetie Belle said, pointing at the house.

“Ah know that!” Applebloom retorted, rolling her eyes.

“Well, I was telling Tenna!”

“Girls! Who’s going to ask her?” Scootaloo asked.

They looked at each other for a moment, before Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle backed up and left Applebloom just standing there, frowning.

“Ah, come on! I did it last time!” She complained, sighing at the end. “But Ah guess fair’s fair.”

Tenna watched with a little amusement at the antics of the fillies, smiling a little bit.

Applebloom turned around and walked up to the door, knocking on it. After about a minute, the door opened, revealing a smiling gray mare.

“Hello Applebloom! Do you need something?” Derpy said, looking down at the light yellow mare.

“Um, me and my friends were wondering if you needed help with your mail route today?” Applebloom said smiling brightly at the gray pegasus.

“Oh.. um... That’s a nice thing for you to offer, but-” Derpy started but was cut off by Applebloom.

“We were just thinking that since you’re behind on deliveries, we could help you catch up? Please? We were hoping to see if we could get our cutie marks by being Mail-Ponies!”

“Well... I suppose I could use some help. Is it just you three?” Derpy asked, her smile back in place, her bubbly personality showing through again, despite the early hour of the morning.

“It’s just me, Sweetie and Scootaloo! Oh, and Tenna’s watching us today!” Applebloom said happily.

“Tenna?” Derpy said, leaning out of the house and looking around. “Oh! Hello!” Tenna waved shyly in her direction.

“Just let me grab my bag real quick, and we can stop by the post office to grab my deliveries.” Derpy said, disappearing inside and grabbing her bag. “I’m just lucky that Dinky is out with Sparkler right now.”

“Dinky?” Tenna asked shyly, falling in step behind Derpy. The CMC’s walked behind them, talking excitedly about the day ahead of them.

“My daughter!” Derpy said, smiling widely. “She just started school, but right now she’s with a family friend.”

Tenna smiled back and nodded, before the two mares lapsed into a comfortable silence.

All in all, it looked like it was going to be a nice day.

Tenna walked down the street, Derpy occasionally grabbing a letter or a package from her saddlebag and pointing one of the fillies to a house on a street to deliver it to. They always took it and went in pairs, arguing or laughing at something or other.

Tenna just watched them with some amusement, occasionally taking one of the heavier packages to their final destination.

It was all going smoothly until Applebloom didn’t grab a letter properly and it went flying up into the air, riding the wind.

Tech smiled, stepping out into the sunlight. It was about three o’clock in the afternoon, which meant one thing.

Freedom.

He was done helping at the store, which meant he was free to go where ever he wanted! Freedom! At last!

Taking to that air, he smiled as he searched the ground for his friend. He lazily flew around town, eventually spotting Tenna with Derpy and the CMC’s. He was about to fly towards them and shout out a hello, whenever something sliced across his wing. The wing that had been hurt in the forest on that night. It had healed, but it still hurt a lot.

Tech didn’t see what cut him, but it hurt.

By Celestia it hurt.

With a slight cry of pain, his wing stiffened up on reflex, and he started on a crash course towards the ground.

Tenna gasped as she saw the envelope fly against Tech’s wing, and then Tech start to crash. She heard Derpy just sigh and the CMC’s let out little squeaks of their own as they watched him.

Tenna quickly looked down at where Tech was heading and, despite herself felt her eyes widen a bit more as she realized just where the green pegasus was going to land.

“Oh no...” She whispered to herself.

The cabbage vendor sighed, looking out at the crowd that was browsing through all the items that were being sold in the mane street open market. Of course, he meant that everyone was looking through the other wares that were available.

Nobody wanted a cabbage.

Still.

He sighed, looking at his cart for a moment at his precious cabbages, before looking back out at the crowd.

His gaze fell upon a grey pegasus who was looking at his cart with a sad expression, before her gaze turned skyward. The vendor glanced at his cabbaged for a moment, wondering if there was something wrong with them.

After a second or two of watching, something smashed into the tail end of the cart, sending the front end up like a teeter totter along with all the cabbages, which then came raining down on him and the surrounding ponies.

His eye twitched slightly as he looked at his cart, which was beginning to roll away with the pegasus still in it.

“MY CABBAGES!” He yelled, greatly upset as he got down on the ground and started to gather up the cabbages that were on the ground.

Tenna watched as Tech crashed into the cart and the cabbages rain down.

She had expected that. What she didn’t expect was for the cart to start rolling down the slight incline the street was on. With her friend still inside.

She sighed as she started running towards the cart, Derpy and the CMC’s following close behind.

“Stop that cart!” She shouted loudly, trying to get help. Unfortunately all that the ponies in the street could do was get out of the way of the runaway cart. It clipped other carts, spilling produce and goods on the ground as the sellers let out cries of aggravation.

Tenna continued to run after the cart as it was reaching the end of the street, where it would eventually hit the building there.

In this case, the library.

Tech’s head popped up out of the cart, a slightly dazed look on his face.

“Tech! You gotta jump out!” Tenna yelled at the top of her lungs.

Tech looked at her in slight confusion, before a look of worry crossed his face as he looked around him.

He seemed to realize that he was moving at a very fast pace towards a solid destination.

A look of terror crossed his face and he flapped his wings while wincing, getting enough lift to get out of the cart and land with a thud on the ground.

The cart, however, continued on its path and slammed into the side of the library, hard enough for the leaves to rattle and for some to even shake loose.

Tenna and Derpy, along with the CMC’s ran to Tech who was still on the ground.

“Tech, you okay?” Tenna asked, concerned as she looked down at him.

“Uh...” Was all the group could make out of his mumbling into the ground.

“Te-” Derpy said, nudging him so that he was facing the sky, but was interrupted by the library door slamming open, and enraged purple librarian standing there.

“What in Celestia’s name was that!” She shouted, before looking at the cart that was slightly upturned against the library, the wheel still turning.

Then she looked at the group in front of her home, gathered around a familiar green pegasus. Her mind whirled as she quickly figured out what happened.

She sighed. “Let me see him.”

The group quickly parted as Twilight went of to Tech and started poking and prodding him, looking in his eyes and doing a standard checkout.

“Tech? What day is it?” She asked him.

“It’s thee twenty fifth.” Tech replied, a little slurred.

“Horseapples.” Twilight said under her breath, before talking to Tenna and Derpy.

“He should be fine. I’m just going to take him to the clinic to make sure he’s really okay though.” She said, getting Tech upright with her magic and letting him lean against her as support.

“Ar-Are you sure Twilight?” Tenna asked, worried.

Twilight smiled. “Of course. He’ll be fine Tenna. I’ll come by and tell you what the doctor said later okay? Right now it looks like you’ve got other things on your mind.” She said, smiling and tilting her head towards the CMC’s.

“B-But...” Tenna started, but was cut off by Tech.

“I’ll be fine. Pegasus, remember?” He said, waving a hoof weakly at her.

Tenna looked at him for a moment, before nodding. “Fine... But come and see me later, okay?”

Tech nodded back. “Of course.”

Twilight shifted slightly. “Not to rush things, but the sooner we get him checked out, the better.”

Tech nodded and started to walk that way, Twilight leading him. Tenna watched them go, before turning back to the street.

It was a mess. The cart had caused a lot of damage. She raised an eyebrow and looked at the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

They looked back at her and smiled sheepishly.

“We know... Help clean up...” They said in unison, their voices slightly sad.

“The last box goes to... Roseluck.”

“I’ll get it.” Sweetie said, grabbing for it but Derpy pulled it out of reach for the little filly.

“Uh... Why don’t we let Tenna get this one.” Derpy suggested, holding the box in front of Tenna.

Tenna nodded and grabbed the box before the other fillies could. “Y-yes, that would be better. Where would she be?” Tenna asked.

“She would be in the greenhouse. She works there.”

“Hey! Why couldn’t one of us take it to her?” Sweetie Belle asked.

Derpy turned and looked at Sweetie Belle and her friends. “Sweetie, I’m going to say this as nicely as possible. A greenhouse is made of glass... I’m a little afraid to let you near glass.”

Applebloom interrupted Derpy. “Hey! We can ‘andle being near glass!”

Derpy’s eye twitched.

Tenna jumped in. “Applebloom and Sweetie,” She cut off when she got a look at Scootaloo. “And Scootaloo... What I-I think Derpy is trying to say is that you three... aren’t exactly... careful. W-we just don’t want you girls to get hurt.”

Applebloom opened her mouth to retort, but was cut off with a hoof in her mouth from Scootaloo.

“They have a point Applebloom. We did sorta destroy a cabbage cart today, along with most of main street.”

Applebloom looked at Scootaloo, before slowly nodding.

“Ah guess so.”

Derpy smiled again. “Now Tenna, the greenhouse is that way. It’s about halfway towards Fluttershy’s house. Do you know where that is?” Derpy said, pointing towards the Everfree forest.

Tenna nodded.

“Good. Now, this is one of the last packages.” Derpy said, breaking into a smile. “I can take care of the rest.” She turns to the CMC’s. “You girls can head home if you want.”

Tenna smiled and turned around to head towards the greenhouse, leaves Derpy to handle the CMC’s. Trotting along the path, she smiles as she watches the scenery.

Humming to herself, she soon arrived at the greenhouse. She almost missed it, as it wasn’t even green!

Walking up to the “greenhouse”, she was surprised when she suddenly was stopped by an invisible object. Falling back on her rump, she rubbed her nose before getting back up and slowly outstretching her hoof. It was stopped by the transparent object, like she thought.

“This entire thing is made out of a force field!?” Tenna said, wonder in her voice.

“Hello? Anyone out there?” A voice called from within the structure.

“I-I am!” Tenna called out. “Are you Roseluck?”

“Indeed I am! Who's this?”

“Te-Tenna! I-I’m helping Derpy with her mail route! I-I have a package for you!”

“Okay! Come on in sweetie! The door’s on the side!”

“O-Okay!” Tenna called out, circling around the ‘building’ and, seeing the open door, enter the greenhouse and quickly spotted Roseluck. Trotting over, she offered the package on her back to the pony.

“Here you go! One package, safely delivered.” Tenna said as Roseluck took the package, setting it on the ground.

“Thanks. Been expecting this for a while now.” Roseluck said, smiling at Tenna. “I’m Roseluck, like you know, but what’s your name? I’ve seen you around, but never had a chance to say hi.”

Tenna nodded shyly, shuffling her hoof slowly along the ground. “Yeah... I-I haven’t been in town for a long time, but I-I’m staying at with Apple family for a while.”

Roseluck thought about it for a second before smiling and nodding. “The Apple’s are a good family. They’ll talk care of ya.” She said.

Tenna smiled nervously, nodding herself. “I-I know. Everyone in town is nice as well, so th-there’s that.”

Roseluck nodded, gesturing to the plants. “Well, as you can see, I grow most of the flowers in Ponyville, so if you ever need a flower for any occasion, we’ve probably got it.” She said, grinning.

Tenna nodded shyly, looking around at all the plants in the greenhouse for a moment before returning her gaze to Roseluck.

“Well Roseluck, it’s been nice meeting you, but I-I have to get back to the CMC’s. Before they start looking for me, or Derpy let’s them loose to start looking for me.”

Roseluck looked slightly panicked for a moment, before laughing. “I suppose I better let you go then. Last time they were here, they left the plants perfectly fine, but managed to shatter all of the glass.”

“The force fields?” Tenna asked, curious as to what could shatter such power.

Roseluck gave Tenna a weird look for a moment, before shrugging and going along with it. “Yeah. The force fields.”

Tenna grinned, nodded again before she turned and exited the greenhouse, waving a goodbye at the flower pony, heading back towards where she last saw Derpy.

After walking for about five minutes, she saw Derpy standing there with a controlled expression. Smiling slightly she trotted up to the grey pegasus and stood next to her.

“So. How was the twenty minutes I-I was gone?” She asked.

Derpy leveled a stare at Tenna. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Tenna just bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. “Anyway, that was the last one, so I’ll take the fillies home.” She said.

Derpy nodded. “That’s probably for the best. Feel free to stop by the post office from time to time, yeah? Be nice to have someone to talk to.” She said, smiling at Tenna.

Tenna smiled back shyly. “Th-Thanks. I-I’ll keep that in mind.” She said before glancing at the fillies. “Well, I think you’ve caused enough damage for one day. Let’s say we call it a day?”

The fillies glanced at each other, a little embarrassed at the reminder of what they had done, before nodding. “Yeah...” Sweetie Belle said.

“Ah suppose Applejack is ‘pecting us at home for dinner.” Applebloom said.

“Yeah. It is getting a little late.” Scootaloo said, rounding out the group response.

Tenna smiled, before giving one last nod and smile at Derpy. “Thanks again Derpy, for helping m-me with this.”

Derpy smiled and waved it off. “If it wasn’t this, it would’ve been something else. Night Tenna.”

“Goodnight Derpy.” Tenna said, turning around and herding the fillies towards their respective homes.

Author's Note

Well.... That was a long wait. I'm sorry for the delay, but you know...
Life. :I

But back to your regularly scheduled ponies! Comment, Critic, and all that jazz.

Candle_Jack says hi. Well, he didn't, but I say he does. :P

One Choice

“Tenna, come on! Please?” Tech said playfully, hovering slightly in front of his friend.

“No! Last time we went to that castle, we got stuck in a bubble!”

Tech gracefully landed with a grin, and rolled his eyes. “Tenna, look at it this way. What are the chances us getting caught in a bubble twice?”

Tenna sighed. “With you? Pretty high...”

Tech laughs slightly. “I’m not that much of a danger magnet. Bubble once? Okay, maybe. But twice? Even I’m not that bad.”

“But what about what Twilight said? She said we’d need an adult if we ever wanted to go back into the forest again.” Tenna protested.

“That’s the best part!” Tech said excitedly. “Twilight’s not here!”

Tenna stared at Tech. “Then where is she?”

“She’s at the castle already! Looking up something for the Princess’s!”

“And that means what, exactly?” Tenna asked.

“Well, if we go there, and we met Twilight there, we’ll have an adult with us.”

“Tech, she’ll just tell us no.”

“But she can’t tell us no if we’re already there!” Tech said happily.

Tenna opened her mouth to retort to Tech, but stopped and sighed. “There’s no point in arguing with you…”

Tech shook his head. “Nope!”

Tenna sighed. “Fine. But I-I’m blaming you if we get in trouble.”

Tech grins. “You always do.”

“Tech.”

“Yeah, Tenna?”

“We’re lost again.” Tenna stated simply.

“No we’re not.” Tech said vehemently.

“Tech, I-I think we’re lost. I-I remember that tree.” She said, pointing to one of the trees that surrounded the pair.

He shook his head. “Nah. We’re not lost. Just let me pop up above the trees and I’m sure I’ll see that we’re almost there.”

Tenna sighed. “Just be careful. You know what happened the last time you did that.”

“I know, I know... I’ll be even carefuller this time. Besides, you haven’t seen any smoky things that no one else can, right?”

Tenna shook her head slowly.

“Okay then. I’ll be right back. Yell if you see anything.” Tech said, flapping his wings and taking to the sky.

“Like you listened to m-me last time!” Tenna yelled after him.

Tech rolled his eyes and laughed, flying above the tree tops, hovering and slowly turning around in a circle, his eyes searching for the castle. Eyes narrowed, he had nearly given up before his eyes caught a glint of something.

Concentrating, he grinned as he realized what it was. It was a pane of glass from the castle, glinting in the light of the noon sun. He quickly flew back to where Tenna waited.

“So, I told you we weren’t lost. The castle is just ahead. So come on then, we can make it there in... ten minutes, tops.” He said confidently.

Tenna smiled. “Okay then. Let’s hurry. I-I don’t like the idea of being in the forest after dark.”

Tech grinned again. “So, you’re afraid of being in the spooky forest, so you want us to go into the even creepier abandoned castle?”

Tenna stared at him. “Wait, wha-what?”

He laughs. “Come on Tenna!” He said, turning around and walking into the foliage, humming a little tune.

“Tech, this isn’t funny.” She called after him.

The foliage moved slightly in the wind.

“Tech?” She called out, slowly backing up.

Suddenly, a stick broke behind her. “TECHHHHHHH!” She yelled, running forward, her disguise having been shocked off her.

Tech looked behind him, and saw an undisguised Tenna flying towards him at top speed, screaming. Rolling his eyes slightly, he turned around and grabbed her as she ran by.

“Woah, woah. Slow down there Tenna. Nothing is chasing you.” He said, making Tenna look behind her. “See?”

Tenna’s breath slowly calmed down, and she realized that Tech was right. “S-Sorry. I-I heard something behind me!”

“Well, there’s nothing there now. Anyway, come on, we’re here anyway. Come on.” Tech said, turning around again and pushing open the door with a loud noise.

“Twilight?” He called out loudly.

Tenna quickly shushed him. “Tech, we don’t know what’s in here.”

He laughed quietly. “Relax Tenna, I asked Twilight about this. There’s an old spell covering this old castle. It keeps all monsters that would wish a pony harm outside.”

“Well, at least you paid attention to part of my speech.” Came a voice from above them. Quickly, the two looked up, to see a purple unicorn looking down on them. “But apparently that same someone decided to ignore the rest of that speech.”

“Hey Twilight!” Tech said happily. Tenna was trying to hide behind him from the angry mare.

“Can I ask what the hay you’re doing here?” She asked, clearly unamused. She concentrated for a moment before teleporting down beside them, the same expression on her face.

Tech smiled in the face of danger. “Well, we-” He started, before a little cough caught his attention. With a glance at Tenna, he amended himself. “-I thought it would be a good idea to come out and see if you needed any help.”

“And what about that little talk we had about not coming into the Everfree without an adult?”

Tenna spoke up, her bright blue eyes shimmering slightly in the light. “I-I tried to t-tell him.”

Tech looked at her for a moment, grinning slightly “Well, I figured that since we made it here in one piece, we would technically be here with an adult!” He said, doing a little hoof flair as he finished his logic.

Twilight stared at him for a moment, her eye twitching slightly as her mind slowly understood his logic.

“Tech... I am honestly unsure about whether or not you’re purposefully being this stupid, or you actually are this stupid.” She said, shaking her head slowly and frowning slightly.

Tech grinned. “Yup!”

Tenna opened her mouth to say something, but a familiar voice came from the hallway.

“Twi! Get away from that thing!” Applejack yelled, dashing into sight and tackling Tech out of the way and slightly behind her, his head striking the floor, and Twilight was left there staring at her orange friend, wondering why she was acting like this.

“Applejack, what?” The purple unicorn managed to say after a few critical seconds.

“It’s the critter Rainbow was telling me about from town!” Applejack said, not looking at Twilight, staring down the creature.

Twilight looked up at Tenna, and gasped as she realized what Applejack was reacting to. Tenna had never disguised herself again!

“No! Applejack!” She shouted at her friend.

Tenna had fallen on her haunches, and was staring at her orange friend, unsure of what was happening. She had no idea what had changed... She glanced back at herself, and felt her body grow cold as she saw not her grey coat, but her shiny black chitin. She felt herself zone out as she watched her. She could see Twilight trying to talk to her, and she could also see Tech slowly sitting up from the floor, holding his head.

‘I-I can’t believe I-I forgot to disguise myself! Stupid, stupid, stupid!’ She mentally berated herself.

She could feel tears starting to form in her eyes, at both her own foolishness and the pain of another betrayal.

“Applejack! That’s Tenna!” Twilight shouted at her friend.

“Twilight, what in the hay are you talking about!”

“That’s Tenna!” Tech said, getting back to his hooves and yelling at Applejack, as Twilight ran around her and started to comfort Tenna. “And you’re making her cry, Applejack!”

Applejack slowly turned back to the thing, which was apparently Tenna.

And she had indeed started to cry, making a noise that Applejack had heard from Tenna before, whenever she had come home from something bad happening. She had comforted Tenna then... And she would have to do that again now.

“Ah, ponyfeathers.” She whispered, before handling the situation the best she could. She quickly ran forward and enveloped Tenna in a hug. “Ah guess a lot of things make sense now.” She whispered to herself.

“Ah’m sorry Tenna. Ah guess Ah was just a little bit surprised at how you looked. But that’s no excuse...” She said, holding the sobbing changeling close. “Ah overreacted... Aww... Tenna, please stop crying?” She asked, patting her on the back.

“Bu-But...” Tenna started, hugging Applejack back.

“Tenna, Ah’m sorry. It’s just, Ah wasn’t expecting this at all...” She paused. “Well, Ah guess Ah had some warning, what with the doctor and all.”

Tenna shook her head, leaning back and using her front legs to wipe her eyes. “I-I’m s-sorry.”

“Aw, Tenna. You ain’t got nothing to be sorry for.” Applejack said, not unkindly.

“I-I should’ve t-told you...” Tenna said, sniffling.

Twilight moved around to Applejack and whispered to her. “I’m going to take Tech and go explore for those objects we were sent to find. You and Tenna have some stuff to talk about.” She said, hugging Applejack for a moment from the side.

She grabbed Tech, who was still rubbing his head, in her magic and dragged him into the castle after her.

“Twilight, come on, can you let me down now.”

“No.”

“Why not?” Tech whined.

“Because you came out here, by yourself I might add, even after I had told you not too!?” Twilight said, stopping and glaring at Tech for a moment before moving on again.

Tech sighed. “Well, technically, Tenna was with me... But, it was just that, well, we were here whenever Nightmare Moon was defeated. I was hoping to come back here and take a look while not being threatened.” He finished explaining to Twilight.

Twilight slowed down slightly, mulling it over in her head. Finally, she stopped entirely, and sighed. “Fine... But if you wanted to come out here with me, why not ask?”

Tech smiled slightly. “You might’ve said no?”

Twilight stared at him again, before rolling her eyes and dropping him. “I swear... teenagers.” Was all she said before shaking her head slightly and trotting into the castle.

Tech grinned and ran quickly to catch up with her. “So, what are you and Applejack looking for. Maybe I can help?” He asked, trying to sound helpful.

Twilight nodded. “We’re looking for Nightmare Moon’s armor.”

“Why?”

“Luna... worries that if the armor is left alone out here, someone will find it and use it for evil. We’re just here to make sure it’s either destroyed or transport it back to Canterlot for study.”

Tech nods. “Makes sense, I guess.”

Applejack just sat there for a while, hugging Tenna until the changeling’s sobs started to subside.

“It’s okay Tenna, it’s okay. Ah’m not mad at you.” She said softly.

Tenna sniffled slightly, pulling out of the hug and rubbing her nose.

Applejack continued. “Truth be told, Tenna, Ah sorta knew that you weren’t what you seemed to be. Ah guess I had just decided that Ah didn’t care. Ah know the real you, okay? And that’s the part that Ah care about.” She said, finishing what she had to say. She looked at Tenna, trying to figure out how she would react.

Tenna sat there, occasionally sniffing and rubbing her nose. Finally, after another sniff, she took a deep breath. “I-I’m s-sorry Applejack.”

Applejack smiled softly. “Ah already told ya Tenna. Ya got nothing ta be sorry for.” She said, nuzzling the changeling softly. “If anything, Ah should be sorry. Ah flipped my lid without stopping to ask fer the whole story.”

Tenna said nothing, looking down at the floor still, her breathing slowly becoming more regular.

Tenna nodded.

“Well, Ah’ve been meaning ta ask ya this anyway, and, well, now seems as good a time as any. Come on, look at me, Tenna.” She said.

Tenna slowly looked up at Applejack, who was smiling warmly at her.

“Tenna, you’ve been at the farm for what, two months now?”

Tenna slowly nodded again.

“Well, during that time we’ve all gotten ta know ya. ‘Bloom looks to ya like a second sister, and frankly, so do Ah. Hell, even Mac’s accepted ya as family.”

Tenna looked confused for a moment, before a faint smile crossed her face.

“Ah was wondering if ya would like ta live with us? Ya know, officially?”

Tenna looked shocked for a moment, before pulling Applejack into a hug, just silently nodding in a fast motion.

Applejack jumped slightly at the sudden affection, but soon returned the hug.

The pair just sat there for a little bit, before Tenna spoke up softly. “Th-thank you.” She said, unsure what else to say.

“Tenna, it’s a pleasure.” Applejack said back, just as soft. “And Ah mean it.”

“So, Nightmare Moon’s armor? Didn’t that get zapped away by the elements?” Tech asked after he and Twilight had been walking for about five minutes in silence, each looking around for the armor, neither having any clue where it might be.

“Well, that’s what we originally thought as well. But there is definitely a piece of her magic hanging around, and it’s mostly likely going to be in her armor, seeing as nothing has attacked us so far.” Twilight said, explaining quickly.

“Wouldn’t it just be where you defeated her?”

“If only it were that simple. The wing that we defeated her in suffered a collapse, and the pieces could be in any of the floors underneath it, mainly these corridors.”

“And you haven’t found any?”

“No, not yet. All we’re finding is pieces of armor that sadly aren’t hers, but are just standard guard armor of the era.”

Tech pointed to an armored boot that was covered by some rubble. “Like that?”

She nodded. “Exactly. While they may be of some academic interest, they aren’t what we are looking for.”

Tech nodded, before he and Twilight stopped at an intersection. Looking left and right, he shrugged. “Your call, Twilight.” He said, gesturing.

Twilight pondered this for a moment, before pulling out a map from her saddlebag and unrolling it. “This map is old, maybe older than I thought. It doesn’t even have this passageway on it.”

“We could always split up.” Tech said, pointing out an idea.

Twilight pursed her lips. “I don’t know about that. It doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

“Twilight, what’s the worst that could happen?” Tech said, smiling. “Look, the ceiling is gone anyway. At the first sign of trouble, I’ll just fly up and find you.”

Twilight thought about it for a moment, before nodding slowly. “Okay. You know what the armor looks like, yes?”

Tech nodded. “Yeah. Got a real close look last time.” He said, jokingly.

Rolling her eyes, Twilight chuckled despite herself. “Okay then. If I find anything I’ll send up a flare with my magic. If you find anything, come find me.” She said, before putting a hoof on Tech to make a point. “And Don’t. Touch. It. There’s a reason that we believe that dark magic may still be inside of it.

Tech nodded. “Right. Don’t touch. Bad things. Got it!” He said, before taking the right hallway.

Twilight watched him go for a second, before going down the left one.

After walking for about five minutes, Tech finally came across a room that joined the hallway. It was a welcome diversion from the monotone of the corridor.

Looking inside, he was surprised to see armored littered all around, thrown about as if left by some careless owner.

“This must have been the armory.” He said aloud, looking around in mild interest.

Tech looked at the armor littering the floor. None of the armor looked like Nightmare Moon’s. Instead ,it looked more like the old fashioned armor that he’d seen in the history books.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he smiled. Picking up the helmet, he flipped it one, looking around for a mirror to look at himself in. Finding a mostly intact one, he looked at his reflection, smiling slightly at what he saw. Striking a pose, he laughed slightly. His eyes danced slightly with happiness, and then glinted a dark blue.

Tech blinked, surprised at the sudden glow. Looking again, he saw that it was still there, only it seemed to be... glowing... brighter.

“Wh-What?” Tech whispered, confused. Eyes widening as he realized what was going on. Frantically, he pulled at the helmet trying to get it off, but it seemed as if it had shrunk to his head.

“Come on, come on, get off!” Tech yelled, struggling with it, tugging at it from the bottom. Pain suddenly erupted throughout his body, it looking like he had been thrown against the wall.

“TWILIGHT!”

Tech looked around him frantically, his eyes frantically searching the darkness around him, searching for something, someone, anyone!

But he saw nothing.

The darkness stretched on and on, until a light appeared in the distance. Tech looked at it, and took to the air. It quickly approached as he flew, and suddenly, he flew through it.

What he saw scared him.

It was Ponyville. That was Tech’s original thought as he looked over the town. He frowned as looked again. It was Ponyville, but it was... desolate. Dark. Foreboding.

It wasn’t the Ponyville he knew.

He landed softly and looked throughout the street he was in. He knew this street. It was the vending street. It should’ve been filled with ponies selling their wares at this time of day.

But there was none. It was empty of anything. Ponies. Happiness. The warmth of the sun.

The only sounds came from his hooves hitting the ground. It echoed off the walls of the buildings, their sounds amplified loudly, and his ears twitching slightly as he looked around.

They’ve left you.

Tech looked around, his heart pounding as he searched for the voice.

Nothing had changed. Nothing had moved.

Tech continued one, eyes warily scanning the allies and windows.

He eventually made it to the center of the town, and the library. It had grown dark, very quickly.

But there were no stars.

He could see shadows, shifting and moving in the corner of eye. But every time he looked, there was nothing.

Suddenly a light appeared in the library. The darkness closing in, Tech sprinted to the door, fumbling with the knob before making it inside and slamming the door shut.

“Tech?” Came a voice.

Tech whirled around, breathing heavily and heart pounding. He saw Twilight standing there, a concerned.

“Twilight!” Tech said, getting up and rushing to her and grabbing her in a hug.

“Tech? What’s the matter?” Twilight said, hugging him back. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Twilight. There are... things outside. Dark things.” Tech said, looking out the window in fear.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Tech, there’s nothing outside. I promise.” She said, going to the window.

“There is! The entire town... everyone! They’re just gone!” Tech said, getting away from the door.

“Tech. I’m sure you’re over reacting.” Twilight said in a teacherly way.

Tech shook his head. “I know what I saw!”

Twilight sighed. “Fine. I’ll prove it to you. Come on.” She said, opening up the door and striding out, past the light that was shining out of the library. Tech could only watch as she turned around and smiled. “See? Nothing out here.”

Tech’s breathing increased. They were moving. The shadows. They...

“Twilight!” Tech shouted out, trying to warn her.

But it was too late. In one single motion, the darkness had moved and seemingly had swallowedTwilight. Where she stood only moments before was an empty space, where Tech could only stare.

One by one...

After a few second, he screamed, dashing forward and slamming the door shut.

Hoofsteps echoed from the kitchen. Staring at the door, Tech let out a sigh of relief as a familiar orange pony stepped out. “Tech? What are you doing here this time of night?”

Tech started to hyperventilate, breathing shallowly, only getting a few words out.

“Shadows... Twilight... Gone!” He said, trying to calm himself down.

“Woah there Tech. Calm down. Nice big breaths” Applejack said, reaching forward to pat him on the back reassuringly.

Suddenly, she was gone as well.

The lights were gone. He couldn’t see.

He couldn’t see!

...They will always leave you, little foal.

Tech couldn’t take it.

He started to cry.

The darkness seemed to solidify, and then retreat, leaving him in a dimly lit area.

And a very familiar pony was there, lying on the ground, crying.

“Tenna!” Tech called out, trying to get her attention. Or he tried, but he couldn’t make any sounds.

All he could do was watch.

After a few minutes, someone walked up in armor, and Tech couldn’t see who it was.

He saw them go up to Tenna, and lift her head up. Tenna jerked her head back, trying to scoot away, but couldn’t.

Tech couldn’t hear anything. He couldn’t do anything.

He was useless.

Tenna stopped crying, fear emanating from her body. Tech could see a grin on the ponies face.

An aura of magic surrounded her, and her body jerked erratically for a moment, before it was still.

The aura disappeared, and Tenna slumped to the ground.

She didn’t move.

But I won’t, little foal.

Tech could only stare in horror as he felt his breath hitch, and he stared at the pony in terror as the pony looked directly at him, smiling that horrible smile.

The aura of magic surrounded the helmet, pulling it off to reveal a very familiar face.

Tech could only stare at himself in shock, as the other him grinned, showing some fangs.

“I will never leave you, Tech.”

“How can I? For I am you.”

And even then, that was gone.

Author's Note

Listener: Serious change in tone for the next two chapters. Think of this as the mid-story finale~
Sorry for the long wait. Writer's block absolute crap.

Chessboard says hi again.

Of Nightmares and Dreams

Tech woke up slowly, holding his head in pain as he pushed the helmet off.

“Oh... Celestia, what a nightmare. I can’t remember the last time I woke up this sore...” He said as he slowly picked himself off the ground and looked up. His eyes gave him a strange site that nobody wants to wake up to.

Two royal guards stood there, spears brandished in his direction. The guard’s stares were even, betraying nothing as he searched them for any clue of what might have happened.

“Wh-What’s going on?” He managed to whisper, swallowing with his already dry mouth again as he waited nervously for an answer.

A third figure appeared behind the two guards, this time a more familiar one. Though the expression was one that he had never seen on her face. Mud spattered legs, and what looked scar ran above her eyeline.

Twilight looked at Tech, a strange mixture of fear and sadness muddling her features.

“Twi-Twilight? Wh-what’s going on?”

Twilight cringed slightly at his voice before regaining her composure a bit, though her voice still betrayed her with it’s slight wobbling.

“Tech, you are hereby under arrest for the massacre of Ponyville.” She said, her eyes growing hard towards the end of the sentence.

Tech’s ears folded down as he heard the words, the rest of the world slowly fading to black as they registered.

“Wh-What?” He said softly, panic in his voice as he shook his head slowly. “N-No. That’s not me. I-I would never.” He looked back up at Twilight, his eyes wide with a crazed look. “Twilight, y-you know me. I w-would... c-could never do that!”

Twilight shook her head. “I’m sorry Tech. I saw it happen with my own eyes.”

Tech breathed heavily, squeezing his eyes shut and putting his head down.

“No... It can’t be p-possible.”

“Then explain the horn on your head, Tech.” Twilight said, her voice low. All of her apparent apprehension had disappeared.

Eyes opening wide, he slowly reached his hoof up to his forehead, where it was met with an unexpected obstacle.

One that shouldn’t have been there.

“Wh-what!?” Tech said, both hooves going to his head, attempting to rip the obstruction off. “N-No! What is this!?”

“It’s a horn. Your horn.” Twilight said, before turning around. “Now get up. We’re leaving, and we’re authorized by the Princess herself to use any force necessary. We didn’t expect to find you unconscious.”

She stopped, and looked behind her at him. “And I don’t care what you have planned. I don’t care who you were. I will not hesitate to end this. Right here. Right now. So don’t try anything.”

With one last glare, Twilight turned and left the building, the door slamming shut behind her as Tech just stared at it blearily as the guards gestured for him to get up.

“Get up.” Was all the unicorn guards said, gesturing up with the spear, as the other simple stared at him with impassiveness.

Struggling to his hooves, Tech leaned against the nearby wall to stabilize himself for a moment before he managed to balance himself and hobbled towards the door, the two guards parting to let him through.

Lifting a forearm to shield his eyes, he gasped at the sight that greeted him outside of the house he was in. It wasn’t like anything he had seen before.

Or...

Had hoped he had dreamed.

He had stepped out of the house, into the ruined streets of Ponyville. He looked around quickly, feeling his breath speedup as he started to panic

“Wh-What?” He whispered, stopping.

Twilight turned around again, anger in her eyes. “Stop trying to play dumb, Tech! Look at this. Our... My home! Gone!” She said, anger clear in her voice as she glared at him.

Tech trembled under the weight of the knowledge that he had apparently caused all this destruction. His eyes wandered again slowly, taking in the sight. Many of the buildings were simply gone, remains of walls marking where they had once stood. The ground was slightly burned, and in the distance, smoke could be seen rising to the sky, presumably from a small fire. As he looked, he eventually looked back at Twilight, breathing heavily as he struggled to form a question.

“How did I... When...” He started, stammering the words out until his mind hit on the question he was looking for.

“T-Tenna?” He asked, worry surging through him system.

Twilight’s eyes seemed to soften for a moment, before hardening again, and with a look at the guards behind him, they prodded him into motion. As he slowly started to walk, Twilight answered him.

“She... is in critical care because of you, last I heard.” She said, softly, but the edge still plain for all to hear. Tech’s ears folded to his head, and his head hung as he nearly missed a step.

“But that’s not the worst part, Tech.” Twilight stared again. “You know what else you did?”

Tech didn’t even attempt to respond, and he didn’t need to. Twilight continued on anyway, as they walked past the roads that no longer existed, places that would only exist in memories now.

“Tech, you exposed her.” Twilight said, not even slowing down, or looking at him as Tech felt his body grow even colder. It seemed physically impossible how cold he was.

“I-I... wha?”

“Yes Tech. First, you broke her emotionally. And then, you just magicked off her disguise.”

Tech opened his mouth to protest, but Twilight stopped him with a glare. “And don’t you dare tell me that you wouldn’t do that. I. Watched. You.”

She said this, and got closer to his face with every word, ending up inches from his face. “And you broke her heart.” She said, her gaze like a knife against Tech.

After a few seconds of this, she looked away again, moving on. “Now come on. We’ve already wasted enough time dealing with this. Princess Celestia wants to have you in Canterlot as soon as possible.”

The guards prodded him again after he didn’t move again, his mind trying to cope with the information that Twilight had given him.

His legs moved, and his head hung low, but his mind was still whirling with the facts he knew, what he thought he knew, and the information that Twilight had given him. None of it made sense! The last thing he remembered was exploring the castle with Twilight...

And now this had happened.

The trek to the train was silent, and filled with unspoken emotion. The only noises that could be heard was the groups breathing and their footsteps disturbing the ground. The noises shattered the silence that seemed... absolute.

The train stood there, it’s normally bright and vibrant colors dulled by the mood of the somber town. Not even bothering to slow down, Twilight slid open the final car and entered it, leaving the guards to make sure that Tech got boarded.

The guards were none too gentle. Prodding him with the spears, he went faster onto the train where he was filed into a compartment where Twilight was already sitting. He was seated quickly on the other side of her, the guards sitting at attention on either side of him.

The train shuddered to a start towards Canterlot, drawing the train and it’s passengers towards Tech’s certain conviction.

Twilight sat there, staring at Tech for a few minutes, before breaking the silence that had pervaded the cabin since the start.

“It doesn’t make any sense.” She said.

Tech looked up at her sharply, startled slightly. “Wh-What?”

“This. It doesn’t make any sense. Why would you destroy Ponyville.” She asked, studying him. “What happened to you. Maybe if you explain, you won’t be executed.” She said, simply stating the fact.

Tech flinched at the causal use of that word. “I-I don’t know. The last thing I remember was looking for Nightmare Moon’s armor, and then...” He shrugged. “I don’t know... but Twilight, you have to believe me. I...” He stopped, unsure of what to say.

The silence returned for a few minutes, before she opened her mouth again. “Guards, leave us.”

The looked at her, confused and looking ready to argue, but at her look, they nodded, filing out into the hallway. Twilight looked at Tech again. “Tech... I’m not sure if you’re telling the truth, or if you’re so masterfully lying that I can’t detect it.”

Tech remained silent.

“You changed, after that. You checked out of the hospital with nothing but a mild concussion. You were slightly moody afterwards, but we wrote that off to the concussion.”

“Then you... you got mean. It was like you were... a completely different person. You were... I don’t know how to explain it. But we once again wrote it off as the concussion. And when Tenna tried to get you to go to the doctor’s” She paused, before cont you snapped. Exposed Tenna. Did some magic that I don’t even know how you managed to do.”

“You held Ponyville captive for a full day Tech. Only Celestia and Luna combining their power did they break the shield that had been erected.”

“You... didn’t like to lose. I don’t know if it was a Nightmare or something, but you cast a spell at Celestia, or at least... looked like you were. But... you collapsed your own spell matrix on itself. Without any escape, the spell overloaded and exploded.”

“Tech...” Twilight said, looking at him like she used to, like a friend, before her eyes hardened. “Now you know what you did. And why... why you must pay.”

Tech just looked at her with sad eyes, before a big bump caused him to hit his head hard, blacking out.

He sat straight up, a loud, continuous beeping in his ear causing him to panic and look around in a hurry, taking everything in quickly. The popcorn ceiling, the ECG monitor, the plain white walls. He breathed quickly, the beeping still on the edge of his hearing as the brown door in the corner of the room burst open, a unicorn quickly reaching Tech’s side.

“Calm down. You’re okay.” The unicorn said, putting a hoof on Tech’s chest and slowly forcing him down into the bed again. “Just lie down.”

Tech resisted at first, but eventually laid down. “Wh-wha?” He managed to get out, his panic receding a bit.

The doctor chuckled. “You’re in the hospital. I don’t have the details behind your accident, but you’re suffering from a mild concussion.” He said, pulling up the clipboard from the end of the bed in his magic.

Tech looked at his doctor for a moment, before closing his eyes, suddenly weary.

“Hey, don’t fall asleep on me yet, Tech. I need to do some simple tests, and then there’s some ponies here to see you.”

Tech sighed, covering his eyes while groaning.

The doctor left after submitting Tech to a battery of tests, only confirming what he had already suspected. He left him with the standard list of symptoms to look out for.

“I’ll send in the ponies that have been waiting for you to wake up.” He said, leaving the door open.

Tech looked at the tube in his arm, moving to get the needle out of his arm only to be stopped by a purple aura.

He looked up to see a familiar purple unicorn enter, a worried look on her face. “Woah, don’t mess with that. They put it in you for a reason.” She said, before walking up to the bed.

“I knew it was a mistake to let you help.” She said, sighing. “I only ended up letting you get hurt, and in the hospital.” She said, before pulling Tech into a hug.

“Dammit, you. You’ve had half the town worried about you.”

“Half the town? Come on, I couldn’t have been in here for that long, could I have?” He asked, trying to joke, his head hurting slightly.

“You’ve been here three days, due to the magical feedback of the helmet.” Twilight explained. “They’ve kept you under while they bleed the excess magic out of your system.”

Tech started slightly. “Well... that was unexpected.”

“Speaking of that helmet, what happened to not touching anything that even looked remotely like the Nightmare’s armor?” She asked, getting slightly angry. “Do you have any idea the repercussions that could’ve happened if we hadn’t gotten it off of you? As it was, it was almost fully bonded!” Twilight said, getting upset at the end.

“We could’ve had another Nightmare on our hooves, only this time it would’ve been you.” Twilight explained, as Tech’s blood ran cold.

“Wha-What?” He asked, memories of the dreams flooding back.

Twilight nodded. “Yeah. It would’ve been bad, but we would’ve stopped it again. We stopped it before. This time would’ve been no different.” She said, smiling.

“Now, rest up, hopefully life can return to normal when you’re checked out.” She said, before saying a goodbye and leaving Tech to his thoughts.

Tech just sat there, worried.

Would life return to normal?

...Could life return to normal?

Author's Note

So, here we are again, it's always such a pleasure.

Update for you guys~ Stay Classy my friends~

Pathways into Darkness

Tenna watched in equal parts awe and fear, as three pegasus guards flew towards the strange mare.

The awe kept her there, even as her body screamed at her to run.

Tech pushed at her, trying to make her go towards an exit. “Come on Tenna! We need to move. Now!”

Tenna turned, and started to run with the crowd, out into the streets of the town, other ponies bumping into them and jostling them. Tech managed to grab Tenna and hover above the crowd.

“Tech, what’s that?” Tenna said, pointing at a dark shadow going towards the Everfree Forest.

Tech looks, but doesn’t see anything. “What’s what?” He asked, confused.

“That smoke...” Tenna said, contemplating it as Tech goes and sets her down to the side of the building.

“Tenna, there’s no smoke anywhere.”

“But... It just went into the forest.” Tenna said, standing her ground.

Tech looked at her, and then at the forest. His face had a strange expression on it.

“Tech?” Tenna asked warily.

“So... We have a mysterious villain, right?”

“Umm...” Tenna said, confused slightly.

“And we also have an incredibly creepy forest right next to where she reappeared.”

Tenna shook her head. She had an idea of where this was going, and she didn’t like it.

“Tech... If you’re thinking what I think your thinking, please stop thinking it.” She said, looking at the pegasus.

Tech grinned. “That depends. Are you thinking that I’m thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Yes?” Tenna said, unsure of what he had just said.

“So... I shouldn’t be thinking of going into the incredibly creepy forest alone, so I should take you along too?”

“Yes. Wait, no!” She said, suddenly catching onto what he was doing. He was trying to confuse her, which he had successfully done.

“Too late! You said yes! Come on then!” He shouted over his shoulder, as he had already taken to the sky.

“Tech! I did not agree to this!” She shouted after him, slowly taking to the air and going after him.

Tech just laughed as he looked over his shoulder at her, before he looked ahead and dodged around a house.

Tenna ran forward, but stopped. Was she really going to go after him? He’s the one with the crazy idea to go into the creepy forest.

Shaking her head, she started to run after the flying pegasus again.

000

“Tech, are you sure that this is such a good idea?” Tena asked, looking around herself with slight fear in her voice.

“Of-of course! Would you rather stay in town and do nothing?” He replied, putting on a brave facade.

“Um... Maybe?”

The strange pair was walking on a path in the Everfree, warily looking at the trees around them. Every tree seemed to hide something.

“Se-See anything?” Tech asked Tenna.

“N-no...”

“I’m going to try flying up to see if I can find anything. I’-I’ll be right back, okay?” Tech said, looking around one last time before jumping and hovering.

“Oh... Okay. Just... hurry back, okay?” Tenna said, worriedly.

Tech nodded, and took off, aiming for the canopy of the forest.

Tenna stayed on the ground, watching Tech while still throwing glances around the forest. But something at the corner of her eye caught her attention. The dark smoke was back, and it was racing towards Tech. Panicking a little bit, she called out to him.

“Tech! Watch out!”

Tech whirled around, facing Tenna on the ground. Flapping his wings to stay in the air, he asked, “What?”

Tenna jerked her head back and forth between the smoke that was rapidly approaching the pegasus, and said pegasus.

“The smoke! It’s back!”

Tech immediately looked around rapidly, trying to spy it. A confused look came over his face. “Are you sure Ten-arg!” Tech’s question became a yell of pain as Tenna watched the smoke circle around him and cinch tight, bending his wings back at an unnatural angle. Causing him to fall from the sky.

“Tech!” Tenna shouted, watching in fear. The black smoke peeled off and went deeper into the forest, but she wasn’t worried about that at the moment.

Moments after the whole thing started, Tech crashed into the ground, sinking a little bit into the mud. Tenna ran to where the pegasus lay, and pushed him over onto his side.

“Tech, come on, you’re okay. You’ve got to be okay.” She said quickly, panic causing her to rush her words out. Putting a hoof onto Tech’s side lightly, she realized that she had again transformed out of her disguise. She didn’t care though. She concentrated, and she could feel her hoof rise and fall slowly with Tech’s breathing.

She sighed softly. He was breathing at least. Now to wake him up.

“Tech.” She said, tapping his shoulder lightly. Thankfully it seemed to work, and he lifted his head.

“Ow... My everything...” He moaned, moving his limbs slowly and sitting up.

“Are you okay?” Tenna asked, helping him as he moved to the position.

Cringing slightly at the contact, he nodded. “Yeah. Pegasi can take some major hits.”

Tenna frowned. “You just fell from about fifteen feet in the air. There’s no way that you’re okay.”

Tech sighed. “It’s something to do with magic. Our bones are infused with it to make them better able to stand sudden pressure, but not so good with constant.” He tried flapping a wing and winced. “But... ah... these are going to be out of commision for a while. Whatever happened up there seriously screwed with my wings.”

Tenna nodded. “Can... Can we just go now?”

Tech nodded, some sense finally coming into his head. Looking around, he frowned. “Do you, ah..., know which way we came from?” He asked, looking around.

Tenna’s blood ran cold when she heard him say that, before looking slowly around them.

“I... I thought you were paying attention?” She said, suddenly scared again of the forest.

“But... I thought you were!” He retorted, panic setting into his face.

The were lost.

In the Everfree.

At night, and possible with a mare that had banished Celestia somewhere.

“Tech?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m scared.”

“I am too...”

000

The pair had been sitting there, huddling together for about ten minutes, neither saying a word. They had been trying to think of a way out of the mess they had gotten into.

Tenna’s ear’s perked up slightly on instinct.

“Tech... do you hear that?” She asked quietly, afraid to break the silence.

Tech looked up, confusion etched on his face. Then, as his ears perked up too.

“Voices. Which means...” Tech said.

“Ponies” Tenna finished. Ponies meant help, and that was a priority. Her fear of the forest over rid her fear of other ponies. With a green flash, she was up as the grey pegasus. Tech got up also, leaning on Tenna for support.

“We gotta get over there.” Tech said, walking forward quickly. Tenna, surprised at first, soon caught up and matched pace with him.

“Hey! Over here!” Tech called out, before getting a hoof in his muzzle. With a look at Tenna, his eyes conveyed his question.

“They’re in here, but so are a lot of other things! Keep quiet and we’ll catch up with them!”

Tech nodded, an understanding look coming over his face. Moving quickly, the pair tried to catch up to the voices, but they always seemed just out of sight, hidden by the dark forest.

“Tenna?” Tech said quietly.

“What?” She said back, just as quietly.

“I’m slowing us down. Go on ahead and stop them, and I’ll catch up, okay?”

“Wait... what? No Tech!”

“We’re never going to catch up to them if we continue at this pace. It’s the only way!”

“But...” She frowned nervously.

Tech smile reassuringly. “Relax. I’ll be fine for five minutes. Besides-” He struck a pose, “-I’m a pegasus. I can out maneuver anything!”

000

Rainbow Dash stopped suddenly. The group was in the forest, going to the castle that sparkle-butt had said would house the Elements of Harmony.

Pinkie Pie stopped too, looking back at her. “What’s wrong Dashie?” She asked, a look of happiness and innocence on her face.

“Some snot nosed little kid just said he was better than me.”

000

Tenna nodded softly. “Just... be careful, okay?”

“Always.” He replied.

Tenna shook her head. From what she had seen, he was anything but careful.

Turning around, she started to run through the forest, only glancing back to make sure he was following.

Then she was gone.

The voices were getting slowly closer, as the trees raced past Tenna’s vision. Just as she was sure they were close enough to see, she burst through the tree line.

Tenna’s jaw went slack, as she gazed up at the abandoned castle. It clearly had been abandoned for a while. Her gaze traveled down the terraces, and eventually to a door, that was currently shutting.

She tentatively ran out, casting looks at the forest as she left it behind. Maybe someone would come with her to grab Tech.

Tenna pushed the door open, carefully stepping inside and looking around. There was nothing really here, except for a stone monument in the middle.

Staring at it, she makes her way around it, trying to see where the ponies she had heard had gone.

A sound. A rock being disturbed, maybe.

She froze.

“So. I wasn’t expecting to see one of you so far out. Did your Queen actually remember me?”

Turning around slowly, she faced the mare that had been on the platform in the town hall.

“I... what?”

Nightmare Moon stamped a hoof impatiently.

“Your Queen. Does she remember me?”

Tenna stared, quivering sight under the stare of the dark mare. “I... I don’t know... What Queen?”

Nightmare Moon stared for a moment, before laughing loudly.

“Oh my... she’s still up to her tricks, isn’t she? It would be a shame to ruin her fun, now wouldn’t it?” Nightmare Moon said, bringing her level stare to Tenna’s eyes.

Tenna wanted to look away. She wanted to shut her eyes.

But she couldn’t.

She felt something in her mind. Searching.

For what, she didn’t know.

She felt... violated.

After a moment, which seemed like an eternity to Tenna, she felt the presence of Nightmare moon leave.

“Oh, well this is interesting-” She started, only to be interrupted by the door opening and slamming against the wall.

“Tenna? You in here?” A familiar voice called out.

Nightmare Moon whipped her head around, a grin on her face.

“Oh, and it looks like your little friend made it too. Why don’t we invite him in?” She said, malice in her voice.

Tenna, frozen in fear, could only stare with a sense of dread in her heart as she saw the evil mare’s horn light up a dark purple.

“Tenna? Where are you-woah! Hey!”

Tenna saw Tech being dragged forward, hooves flailing in the air as the same purple glow surrounding the dark mare’ horn clung to his body.

“Hey-hey! Stop it! I mean it, you’re going to be in big trouble when I get out of here!” Tech said, whirling around so that he was no hanging upside down and was eye level with Nightmare Moon.

“Or what, little pony?” She said, smiling in a malicious way.

“I’ll whoop your butt!” Tech said, trying to spit in her face. It fell short and a couple of inches to the left.

“Oh my. I’m quaking in my boots.” She said in a dry voice.

“Let me down and face me in a fair fight you monster!”

“Oh, it is fair. Fair in my favor. I mean, I have magic. What do you have? Wings that don’t work?”

Tech stopped struggling, and looked down.

“I thought as much. Now, I have some important business to conduct with Tenna over here. Now, if you would be so kind as to roll over there.”

“Roll?”

Nightmare Moon flung Tech into the air, and encased him a magical sphere before he hit the ground.

Turning around to face Tenna again, she grinned.

“So, where were we?” She stopped and pretended to think for a moment. “Ah yes. You seem to have some... memory issues, is that correct?”

Tenna stared, backing up slightly and trying to make herself smaller.

“Now. Tell me changeling. What are you willing to do to get them back?”

Tenna looked up, her eyes huge. “You... You... can...”

“Help you get them back?”

Tenna nodded.

“Of course I can. But the question stands. What are you willing to do for it?”

“I... I...”

“Would you be willing to leave everything you know behind? Would you be willing to leave you new friend, the flying deficient pegasus?” She started walking towards Tenna. “Would you?”

Tech started pounding on the solid magic of the bubble shield. His words were muffled by it, but still clear enough to make out.

“Don’t listen to her! She’s just trying to trick you! Don’t trust her!”

Her mane blazed out slightly in anger as she turned to face the green pegasus. “Silence, You little whelp! I was going to get to you after she had made her choice, but now I’ll get to you now. Little Tech. Laughed at. Misunderstood time and time again. Wouldn't you like it if somepony actually took you seriously for once? I can get you that. Respect!”

Tech looked at Nightmare Moon, a strange look coming over his face.

“Re-respect?”

“Yes, Tech. Respect. And more. All you have to do is leave.”

He jerked his head. “Leave? I can’t leave Ponyville! My friends, my family-”

Nightmare Moon cut in. “Have never taken you seriously. They’ll never take you seriously, anyway. Just think. Everyone giving you respect and taking you-”

“That’s enough!” Came a thundering voice that neither ponies talking had expected.

Tech looked behind Nightmare Moon, as she looked behind herself to see who was talking. What they saw surprised them both.

Tenna was standing, and seemed to be quivering in anger. Opening her eyes, they glowed a ghostly green, and it soon spread to the rest of her body.

“I may not know who I am, but I know who I want to be! And it doesn’t involve you! But it didn’t end at you tempting me! You tried to get my friend! My Friend, you... you.... arg! You will not! Hurt! My! Friend!”

[

With those words, she rushed Nightmare Moon, taking her by surprise. The blow landed her on her side, gaping slightly at the pony before getting back up and glaring at her with hate in her eyes.

“Foal! You could have had everything!”

“You offered nothing!”

With a flash of light, Tenna appeared on Nightmare Moon’s back, clinging down and sending out some of her magic.

“Stop this nonsense at once and I promise you your death will be swift!”

“No!”

Tenna dug her mind, searching for something, something she knew she had, but had never used. Or at least she thought.

The tendrils of magic stopped, and latched onto Nightmare Moon’s legs, and jerked, causing her to fall down heavily.

“You will stop!” The evil mare yelled, using her magic to grab Tenna and bring her to her face. “I have others to take care of at the moment. I will deal with you later.”

With those words, she flung Tenna at the bubble Tech was in, and it pulled her in as well. Without another word, she turned, and flew out a window, back into the forest.

Tenna slammed into the bubble, trying to get out. The attacks on the surface shook it hard, but after a few more strikes, they slowly came to a stop. Sitting on her haunches, she stared out of the bubble, eyes not focusing on anything as the green glow left.

“Ten-Tenna?”

She broke. Tenna started to cry.

Tech slowly moved over and leaned into her and put a wing over her. Leaning in, he gave her a hug, and held her close as he spoke.

“Don’t listen to her, okay? She just tempted us, like you said. Don’t cry. We’ll get out of this.”

Tenna looked up, tears coming and not stopping. “It’s... It’s not just that.”

“Then what is it? I’m sorry I dragged you out here. It was, it was a stupid idea, okay!” Tech said, punching the floor of the bubble.

“Tech... Everything she said was true.”

“You... you mean you really can’t remember anything?”

Swallowing hard, she nodded.

“Oh, Celestia. I’m so sorry...”

Shifting slightly, he faced Tenna.

“Tenna. Look at me for a moment, okay?”

Tenna looked up, blinking back the tears.

“I promise you, I will help you get your memories back. Okay? No matter what it take.” He said seriously.

Tenna looked at him. “Prom-promise?”

“Of course I do. Besides,” he said.” I’m Tech Beat! I keep all my promises.”

He smiled softly.

Tenna looked at him, before hugging him tightly, still crying. Tech returned her hug

They stayed like that for a while, before flashing lights in the castle got their attention.

And the bubble dissolved.

“Does that mean...” Tech said.

“Maybe?” Tenna answered.

Tech started trotting forward, before stopping and calling out, “Hey! It anypony here!?”

Voices.

Tenna scooted up towards Tech. “What are you doing!?” She whispered.

Tech shrugged. “The bubble is gone. That’s gotta mean either she’s wounded, or gone.”

“Hello? Is somepony out here? A familiar voice came.

Tech gasped, while Tenna sighed in relief.

“Twilight! Thank Celestia!”

“Did somepony say my name?”

Tech’s face went slack from surprise, and glanced back at Tenna.

“Your disguise!” He hissed.

Tenna nodded, and a flash went up around the room.

A familiar purple unicorn entered the room, followed shortly by several ponies that Tech recognized, and even a few that Tenna did too.

And then an even taller figure walked in, white as snow. Tech dropped, and with a sideways glance at Tenna urged her to do as well.

Before she could though, the princess laughed. “There’s no need for that. Rise, my little pony. What are your names?”

Tech stood quickly, eyes shining at meeting Celestia. “I’m Tech!”

Celestia smiled, and turned her attention to the other pony in the room. “And yours?”

“I-I’m Tenna.”

Twilight looked at her curiously, confused. Tenna was a black pony... interesting.

“A pleasure to meet you Tech and Tenna. But I have to ask, what are you doing out here?”

Behind her, all of the other ponies that knew them, except Pinkie, nodded at that.

Tech grinned nervously. “We uh... Well... I sorta wanted to see if I could find the villain.”

Rarity stepped forward, glaring at him. “You know better Tech. I know for a fact that your parents teach you better than this.”

Tech laughed nervously. “I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”

“Oh yes.”

Celestia chose this time to step forward.

“Wait a minute Rarity. Lessons are learned from mistakes. What did you learn from this one, Tech?”

Tech looked at the ground, before kicking a hoof. Taking a deep breath, he looks back up at the group.

“I rushed into a situation without realizing how dangerous it was, even when I should have. And because of that, I could have lost a friend, or she could have gotten hurt. No amount of adventure or fun could ever make that worth it.” He finished, and looked back at Tenna, smiling.

Tenna smiled back, before nervously stepping forward.

“B-but because he came out here, we-we’ve grown closer as friends. I-I’ve seen that I could trust hi-him.” She said, by the time she finished, she was standing next to Tech, her side barely touching his.

“I can see that this experience has had at least some upside. Come on then, shall we get back to town?”

She turned and lead the group back out of the castle. Applejack stayed behind to wait for the pair.

Applejack went up to Tech, rustling his hair before pushing him slightly. “Your parents are going to kill you for being out here. But ah can’t say that Ah ain’t impressed by it.”

She turned to Tenna. “And you. Thanks for sticking with this here numbskull.”

Tenna smiled as Tech ran a hoof through his mane, trying to get it back into its usual style.

“Um... Applejack?”

“Yeah Sugarcube?”

“Why is there a surprise alicorn?”

“She’s Luna. She’s a princess, and Nightmare Moon took her over, at least from what I can tell. It’s all magic confusing to me...”

“Now come in. It’s late, and Ah’m tired.”

000

Tenna wanted to stay up at the farm for the celebration, but Tech eventually managed to get her to come out.

“Tenna.”

“No.”

“Tenna.”

“I said no Tech.”

“Please?”

“Tech, really? Do I have to?”

Tech grinned. This had been up for about twenty minutes, and this was the first sign that he was going to win.

“Yes. It’s mandatory.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Uh... Please?”

“Tech.” Tenna said, exasperated.

“Ppplllleeeaaaasssseeee? Please please please please plllleeeaaassseee!”

Tenna sat up in the bed, throwing a pillow at the annoying pegasus.

“Urg! Fine, I’ll go! Just be quiet!”

Tech grinned, before disappearing out the door.

They pair made it to the town, just in time to catch the end of the parade. It was fun, with lots of ponies, but Tenna noticed that she didn’t mind as much. She was still wary, but not as much as before.

A flash of purple came next to them, startling them both. A dazed Twilight Sparkle stood there, and she shook her head before looking at them. “Finally! I’ve been looking for both of you all morning! The princesses wish to speak with you before you leave!”

Tech look slightly scared. “Are... Are we in trouble for going into the Everfree?” Tenna eeped slightly at the thought.

“No, at least not from them. The princesses wish to give you a sort of... job.”

“Um... what?

“Ooohhh, I’ve already said too much! Come on!”

With that, she took off, leaving to confused ponies in her wake.

“Is it too late to run?” Tech asked.

“Yes...”

The pair laughed and took off after the unicorn, albeit at a much slower pace.

000

“Has Twilight told you why I asked you to come here?” Celestia asked, looking at Tech and Tenna, smiling warmly.

“Um... Sh-she told us that you had a job for us?” Tenna said shyly.

“Really? Is that all she told you?” She asked, raising her eye at Tenna.

“Y-yes.”

“Very well then. Do you two remember the reports you gave to me last night? The ones about how you trust each other, and of friendship?”

They nodded slowly.

“Twilight Sparkle is staying here in Ponyville to study the Magic of Friendship. I was hoping that you could also send in friendship reports, to get a different point of view of friendship.”

“Us?”

She laughed softly. “Yes, you Tech. And Tenna, of course. Only if you wish to, though. I would appreciate it immensely.”

Tech nodded slowly. Tenna just stared.

“So, will you Tenna? Will you study the Magic of Friendship for me?”

Tenna looked up, determination suddenly in her eyes.

“Yes, I will.”

000

Meanwhile, a lone figure stood on a building overlooking the meeting with the Princess. However, his gaze was not focused on her, instead, his interest was with Tenna. A small grin came on his face, before he whispered,

“I knew...you could do it...” He said, before fading away into the night.

000

Author's Note

Da Feelz! The Laughz! The Referencez! Points if you can name the references!
Thanks for sticking along on this crazy ride, and next time we'll come with an editor, absolutely free of charge to you!

Hello everybody! Chessboard here! But you can call me Matt. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who reads, likes and comments on this story. I never thought Tenna would be so well received by everyone! See you all next time, and be ready, we have a lot planned for this, this is just the beginning. See ya~