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.
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.