//------------------------------// // One Choice // Story: Tenna // by Listener //------------------------------// “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 swallowed Twilight. 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. ----