Tenna
Chapter One: Roads the Cross
Written by: Listener
Pre-read by Chessboard_Jack and Bronymastermind17
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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