Nightmare Moon has nothing on the... · 7:05am Jul 12th, 2019
Leaning down, he spent a few seconds squinting at the stainless steel bed. In the cracks and unseen places, he found rust. Not much rust, and after a quick inspection, he determined that it wasn’t rust left behind by the iron assemblies, but surface rust eating at the steel itself. The passivated metal was oxidising. Defeated, he sighed. His work was now a bit more complicated and he wondered if the surface rust could be removed. If only he had a rust removal spell, but such a thing was beyond him.
Another worker might have ignored this problem; after all, it was unseen. Hidden away. Only a complete disassembly would reveal it. Nut’s attention to detail would not allow him to ignore this. Over time, the affliction would exacerbate. Eventually, the rust would eat away enough metal that a catastrophic failure would happen. It was an outcome that could be largely avoided with effort and attention to detail.
It frustrated him that things like nuts and bolts were made of cheap, disposable iron, and wagon beds were made of enduring stainless steel. Sometimes it felt as though the parts were made to fail, as if some brilliant pony decided that they could make a bloody fortune by selling compromised parts that succumbed to the elements. After all, if the wagon makers sold a wagon that never fell apart, they wouldn’t have much in the way of repeat business.
Disgusted, he snorted and quietly cursed capitalism.
He moved around the rear of the wagon, arrived at the other side, and surveyed what needed to be done. This entire side would also have to be disassembled, so the ruined wooden axle could be free. Why not a steel axle? They existed. But they were costly. He saw that the dished wheels were a mess of wood rot, rusted iron, and filth. It was dirty. Everything was dirty. This city caused things to rot.
Repulsed, infuriated, almost driven feral from his ire, Nut briefly transformed into the Disgustang. Eyelids twitching, the corners of his mouth convulsing, he very much wanted to go and shake some sense into the pony responsible for this offense. But his anger was quick to pass, and in mere seconds, he recovered his fumbled composure. At least Black Maple had not witnessed his momentary fall from grace.
In the back of his mind, the feral Disgustang lurked…
“Nut… you kinda got scary there—”
“Think nothing of it,” he instructed. “A momentary lapse of reason. Nothing more.”
“I’m thinkin’ yer the fussy type, Nut.”
Lifting his head, he peered at Tater Blossom over the top of the wagon bed. She was smiling, a broad, beaming smile. Which had to be hurting her, given the condition of her face. He returned her smile; it was the least he could do. She was so brave, so plucky. So full of good cheer even when confronted by the spectre of the Disgustang.
Not even the Elements of Harmony can stop the Disgustang. Driven to feral rage, he will scrub and scour away all filth. Dirt, grease, and grime do not stand a chance. All will be made clean. Everything that is a source of revulsion will be purged. It can be said that every pony deals with a dark, troubled side, and Nut is no different. A rough, terrible beast dwells in Equestria.
Author's side note: I would like to see a crossover with the Disgustang and Chartreuse in her full-blown UNCOUTH! mode. Unpleasant things would have a bad day.
Disgustang : "I WILL SCRUBBLE THE EVIL OUT OF YOU !!!!!"
Nightmare Moon: "For the love of me...help...mercy..."