> The Wing Warrior > by heavy weapons brony > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Swift wind rode over the flat dry expansion known as “The Wasted West.” A dry and lifeless body of a gray unicorn mare of lay in the sand of a dried lake bed. Patiently waiting for the night to come so the predators of the night could strip it of its flesh and allow the next day’s burning hot sun bleach it bones white. But the Sun rays were interrupted by a shadow that loomed over the body. It was cast by Grinded Gears. A Young dark green pegasus with a dirty blonde mane that was cut very short. He was adorned in a makeshift outfit of leather, steel plating and tire tread, an apparatus of thin metal covered his left wing. He began to root though the unicorns pockets, immediately he found a gun. A heavy framed scoped 44. A very powerful gun indeed. It was cast in orange steel and had a grip adorned with three apples. Gears opened the cylinder and found it empty, typical. Gears rolled his eyes and threw the weapon on the sand to the side. Trixie's Order Hadn't produced 44.s in years and one would find that ammo in very short supply. Gears went back to rooting through the mares pockets and felt a book in her right breast pocket, He began to pull it out when the mare's body suddenly sprang to life and wrapped a hoof around his. “Don’t…….it's,..it's mine” The corpse coughed. “Whoa, easy now Shelia,.... you won't be needing any of this where you're going.” Gears responded coldly. “Water,...Please” The corpse begged. “Nah,... You're in very advanced stages of dehydration, you're a goner. Any water you drink will just be a waste. best enjoy the last few hours of your life.” Gears retorted. The corpse let go or Gears’s hoof, eyes half lidded and hope vacant from her face she mulled over the thought of drying up in this lake bed. “Kill me,...please.” The Corpse pleaded. Gears stood up straight and considered the notion. He always considered himself as a pony who never bothered anyone. Just another poor soul trying to get by. Shure, He had killed a few ponies in his life but most of them had guns and were attempting to steal his property or worse. The thought of killing a pony that was lying in the sand kinda made him uncomfortable. But he was certainly not above the idea. Gears pulled out his own sidearm, a Mauser C96 red 9. It was bolted to the apparatus covering his left wing, he cocked the hammer back using the system of levers attached to the muscles in his wing. He pointed it at the mare's head, She closed her eyes and weakly brought her hooves to her face out of instinct. He pulled back the slide and saw the glint of 3 brass casings left in the box magazine. He shook his head and pulled the weapon back. “Alright, you look like you've been through alot, I suppose you deserve a break.” Gears brought his forehoof down on the mare's neck, it broke like twigs wrapped in saran wrap. The mare’s eyes bulged from her skull, One last breath of air escaped from her throat and sputtered out of her mouth and nostrils carrying half a pint of blood and splattering it all over Gears’s forehooves. The mare’s eyes then retracted and glazed over, her breath fell quiet and her forehooves fell limply to her sides. Gears then proceeded to loot the mare in peace, finding little besides the book. Gears pulled out the book and read the title. “The Wasteland Survival Guide” Gears flipped through the book and found many amusing chapters on nonsense, such as Super Alicorns, Radhogs, Radgators and making friends. Gears then found another chapter called “Leaving the stable!” Gears snorted with amusement and shook his head. He tossed the book into the air where the breeze caught it and by the will of the Celestia herself landed on the dead mare’s snout. Gears entered a casual walk over to a nearby stretch of asphalt where a battered rusty pre-war two door muscle car stood. Gears opened right hoof door and took one more look at the dead mare. “You should've stayed in the stable Love.” Gears shouted, slightly amused at his dark sense of humor. He Slammed the ancient door shut and the car rumbled to life “Cause out here, its a whole new world.” The rear tires screeched for a few seconds fighting the massive amounts of horsepower the giant V8 poured onto the tarmac. They soon found purchase and sent the car careening down the long straight road, the sound of the short unmuffled pipes protruding from under the car rolling across the flat open West. > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Energy, the entire world lives, and dies by energy. It was a massive release of energy that created the universe, that created Equestria and created the Wasted West. In the old days most energy came from unicorns. Ponies lucky enough to be born with a horn on their heads and all the energy to use when the wanted. One would think that this would cause prejudice and jealousy among ponies without such capabilities, except in some small isolated groups, ponies of different races mostly got along. Supporting old pre-Revolution ideals of Friendship and Harmony. That was until the start of the Energy revolution. Ideals of harmony and camaraderie did prevent massive violence between the races, But it did nothing stop the greatest minds of each of the races from working around the clock to find of flexible, and abundant forms of energy First, high above the clouds the Pegisi first harnessed the very weather they had controlled. Clouds constantly expand which though some clever thinking can be utilized to power many different forms of machinery. A Long expansive railway system had been laid all over equestria. Cloud powered trains ran all over the land in order to meet the rising demands for reliable and fast transportation. But that was Simply the beginning. Then was Electricity, also know as “The Spark.” Discovered by the unicorns and marking the beginning of a dramatic leap forward in technology for all ponies. Soon earth ponies didn't need to burn oil made from vegetables in order to work at night. They could just hook to a expansive grid that was placed through Equestria and have all the light they need with bulbs of glowing metal or fluorescent. This led to a number of new inventions, radio, T.V, electronic ovens, heaters and motors. Life In Equestria had changed dramatically in just a decade, Now a simple earth pony could have electricity dance across his hooves and into a machine that could do the work of one hundred farm hands. Then have his entire crop loaded onto a train and have it transported where it was needed in a quarter of the time without having to risk a long and dangerous journey. Then Earth ponies, Inspired to create a energy all their own. First discovered in a giant pocket under Appleloosa the greatest and most powerful energy, more so than even magic. It would change Equestria forever. It was known to the nerdiest of unicorns as “Petroleum.” To the common Lay pony “Oil” and to the average Wasted West Wanderer. “The Black Fuel” > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gears drove through the expansive wastes, the sound of his big V8 rolling over the canyons and mesas that surrounded lonely road, Only being interrupted by the occasional gear changes. Gears relished in sound of his beloved Coltus 351, it was a cheap, powerful two door muscle car that was marketed in the old world as a way for young colts to escape their parents quickly but within several (hundred) paychecks of somepony who worked at hayburger. The vehicles original paint was long blasted away after a lifetime of driving through sandy winds at 80 mph and completely replaced by rust. It was equipped with (as the name suggests) a three hundred and fifty one cubic inch V8. It had a large hood scoop which was badly banged and lost all of it original chrome that sat on a large blower equipped with a supercharger that sat idle. Lastly, much to Gears’s relief, whoever had originally bought this car sprang for the T top. The Coltus hit a large pothole, its weak suspension shook the car. Gears grunted as soreness began to cover his flanks.The radio all of a sudden sprang to life and through some static loud bass notes began shaking the car. Gears narrowed his eyes and brought his hoof down on the dash, ending the music. Today he faced blistering hot sands, crumbled pre-war buildings and had to mercy kill the only mare he had talked to in a month. “Dubstep it the last thing I need.” Gears though out loud. The sound of compressed air shattered his thoughts as a steel arrow stuck itself into his car’s trunk cover. Gears looked into his rear view mirror and saw a group of large figures riding atop an ancient tow truck. “Ohhh” Gears groaned. “That was the last bit of this car that didn't have any holes in it!” he shouted before smacking his head against the steering wheel. “Ow,....I take it back, Diamond dogs are the last thing I need.” Barks and howls of celebration overpowered the sound of the two engines as the truck of Diamond Dogs reeled it the Coltus. “Fucking flea bitten Bone heads,....heh,...boneheads. Funny because their dogs.” Gears chucked to himself as he flipped a red switch on the dash. The supercharger sprang to life and forced his engine into overtime. The revs doubled as the pipes bellowed. Turning precious juice into three things, smoke, noise and horsepower. The Diamond dogs were thrown back by the sudden burst to speed, One fell off and into the sand. The Rest gripped the truck for dear life. Gears looked back into his mirror and saw the Diamond dogs begin to panic, he began whistling a tune as his car and the truck began pushing 90. Gears then violently jerked the wheel which caused a jerk in the line the endided at the harpoon gun mounted on the Diamond dogs truck. The truck then was pulled onto its side by the Coltus, crushing most of the occupants and dragging it along the asphalt. It began Bouncing along the road behind Gears, dead limbs of the Diamond dogs flailing about in the mass of twisted metal. “This is my favorite bit.” Gears Said out loud, he slammed his hoof down on the middle petal. Causing his brakes to lock up. The Coltus screeched and skidded to a stop, The truck bounced over the car and smashed into a billboard just off the road. ‘Ho Yeah! Three points.” Gears shouted, Lifting his hooves in celebration. Gears killed his engine and stepped out. His Hooves clopped against the hot tarmac as he approached the wreck, weapon drawn. He eyed the upper half of a Dog the stuck out from under the scrap, Gears nervously poked it with a barrel of his Mauser, The dog Erupted to life with a massive whine of pain. The injured dog thrashed at Gears with all its might, Its claws ripping the air inches away from Gears’s muzzle and with blood flowing from its mouth. Bang! A 9mm round tore through the dog’s skull, ending it suffering. “Let no one say I was unkind to animals.” Gears said out loud. Gears then took notice of the fluid leaking from the mass of scrap, he scrambled back to the Coltus and opened the trunk. He pulled out several plastic containers and quickly placed them under the leaking wreak to catch as much juice from the ruined fuel tanks. Gears then took a seat, a bit tired from the full episode his eyes wandered to the dead Diamond dog pinned halfway under the wreak. “What's that?” Gears said to the dog, lifting a hoof to his ear. “You can’t believe you just got your furry ass handed to you by a random pegasus wack-job?” Gears said continuing with his own personal play. “Oh and you think i’m your daddy?” Gears then sprang to his hooves and began furiously kicking the dead dog’s head. “Who’s your daddy huh? whos your fucking daddy!?” Gears shouted between kicks. Eventually the dogs neck snapped and the head flew free from its corpse and smacked into the left fender of Gears’s Coltus. ‘Oh you fucked up now.” Gears shouted “You gone and dented my fucking,.......CAR!” Gears furiously kicked the dog’s head several yards off the road into the sand. Thus was the way Gears entertained himself. “I’m a fucking sociopath I swear.” Gears said between breaths, I bit winded from in self produced show. After getting his breath back Gears spied something in the headless dog”s pocket. “Whats this? you holding out on me you headless son’ of a bitch?” Gears rooted through the pocket and produced a tin can. The faded label read “Dinky Doo Dog Food,” and had a image of a dancing little light purple and blonde unicorn filly under the wording. Gears lowered his eyebrows at the possible meal and elected that it did indeed beat starving. “I’m still worried it will make me as brainless as you lot.” Gears shouted at the mutilated Dog. “Heh, brainless, headless, Comedy just pours from me like shit from a cow.” Gears grumbled, placing the dog food into a tuckerbag he pulled from his Coltus. Gears then grabbed some rags and wiped the wreck clean of fuel. The used funnels to pour it all into a external fuel tank above this trunk. Gears was about to take off when he spied a cassette tape near the body of the headless dog, curious and anxious as good pre-war music is hard to find. leaving you to the mercy at Pon-3s who endlessly play dubstep over the one radio channel in the Wasted West. Gears fired up his car and inserted the tape. As the song began, Gears chuckled and shifted into first, Propelling the Coltus Forward. ‘What a day what a day, Lets head back to the homestead eh?” Gears said with a smile, Turning his head towards the empty passenger seat. “Dont talk much hm? suits me just fine,.....as nothing out here really does.” Gears said joyfully. “Nothing out here really does.” > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grinded Gears’s Coltus skidded to a stop in the shallow red sand outside of a dingy little tin shack built on the foot of a plateau Gears hopped out of the car and slammed the door shut, he sauntered up to the shack, tuckerbag in tow. After a few steps gears stopped, Gears went around to the back of the Coltus. A fresh hole about half an inch wide glared back at gears from just above the trunk latch. Gears narrowed his eyes. Gears spat in his hoof and began rubbing the hole furiously, after a few seconds all he accomplished was getting his hoof all dusty from his spit mixed with the sand on the trunk, Gears grunted and began walking to his shack. Gears pushed open the screen door. The shack was very lightly furnished with a steel kitchen table, a mirror, a single sink, a bog, and a hammock made from a large tire. Throwing the bag on a rusted steel kitchen table, Gears grabbed a ragged lawn chair and sat at the table and began sifting through the day's loot. First out of the bag was a burned up spark plug pilfered from a motorcycle unearthed from the changing dunes. Gears popped it into his mouth and threw it around in there for a few seconds, the dusty metal grinding against his worn chompers before spitting it back out into his hoof. The black was mostly removed from the threads and the electrode was in fair condition. A good piece of salvage. Next was 3 9x19mms, found on the body of scout from Trixie's Order. They were lightly rusted, the body had been buried in the wastes for a while, and guessing from the condition of the body’s skull, there once was 4. “Damh ponies, always taking the easy way out, if everypony just accepted their fate and dried up out there I would have more ammo.” Gears grumbled, loading the shells into his mauser. Next Gears pulled out 5 cans, 3 Dinky Doo dog foods and 2 Sweet apple pie mixes. The pie mixes were and good find indeed. Gears elected to save them for a rainy day along with 2 of the dog food cans. Satisfied that he would be able to eat tomorrow gears went over to his hammock and laid down. Gears looked up and the creaky wooden roof that held up his bed. Gears began to rock slightly, the chains that held his bed aloft slightly tinkling in the the silent shack. This is when Gears’s mind began to wonder, With his head it seemed a million voices began echoing. “Why would you do this Gears?” “Tell him!” “Woman put that foal down!” “I’m trying to sleep!” “It was ponies like you THAT KILLED THIS WORLD!” Gears blinked, he hated when his mind wondered, when the voices began to yell at him. It was only when his mind was occupied that he truly knew peace. But through years of practice Gears new a perfect way to keep his mind occupied, Gears leaned over and reached under his hammock and pulled out a dusty mess of shredded paper, Gears blew off the dust to reveal a glossy picture of a unicorn mare, dripping wet from just having climbed out of a concrete pool, her eyes looking back at gears seductively, Gears licked his lips and with practiced ease turned to his favorite page. This time Gears was looking at a picture of a mare’s rump. It was huge and shapely, taking up most of the frame. The Mare herself peaked out from behind her own flanks. Gears look deeply into the mare's eyes taking in every detail, The mare blinked back. “Like what you see honey?” The Mare giggled. Gears grunted in approval. “Well it's all yours baby, Why don’t you take a wiff? Make sure its fresh?” Gears took in a deep breath, crushing the magazine up to his face, savoring the smell of damp paper and mold, The Gears froze, realising what had just happened. His porn was taking to him. Gears bolted upright and threw the magazine across the room, He then flew across his shack like a shot colliding with the sink in the corner, Gears quickly recovered and began pumping the water pump that hanged over the basin, after a few pumps thick muddy water began spraying all over the bottom of the basin, After a few more pumps the water turned to just a slight brown, Gears ran his hooves through the water and splashed his face, then Gears then pursed his lips around the spigot and drank heavily, A few gulps in pressure in the pump gave away and Gears came up for air, face soaked and breathing heavily Gears look at his raggedy face in the mirror. “Did your skin rag just talk to you?” The reflection asked. Gears sputtered a breath out, and nodded. “Umm-hmm, did you ever think that you might be a little crazy?” Gears sputtered again, “If I weren't then I wouldn't be out here.” Gears’s reflection brought a hoof to his chin, “A fair point, tell me, How long has it been since you've seen another pony?”” “A few hours.” “That was alive?” Gears though for a moment, “Two weeks?” “That didn't have a gun to your head, or you didn't to theirs.” Gears rolled his eyes back deep in though, “I dunno, about five to six months?” “I think it's time for some social interaction.” “What is this?” “Mild sparks of insanity.’ “So is talking to real ponies.” “Whatever man, you like in the middle of nowhere, you live off of trash and scrap, and all you do his masturbate and tinker on your car all day and you go to bed every night wondering why you're gonna die a virgin.” Gears began to get angry with himself, “I'm gonna die a virgin because most every-pony else is a psychotic cunt.” Gears’s reflection snorted, “and talking to your reflection isn't psychotic?” “You call it insanity, I call it personality.” Gears’s reflection chuckled, “Do you even listen to yourself.” Both parties then stared at one another and blinked. Gears then took a sheet from his hammock and threw it over the mirror, Gears’s reflection yelled back. “And you also got a small dick!” “It's never been a problem before!” “Only because you’ve never got a mare to go third base with you!” Gears ignored himself and stared out the window, it was still early midday and he had just scavenged a can of fuel, there were a few things he could use, some motor oil, maybe a few yards of chain, Gears’s wandered to the a cans of dog food on the table, With another sigh He threw them into his tucker bag along with a few other barbels and threw it over his shoulder. The Coltus’s engine roared to life, its tires kicked up some sand as they fought for grip while moving forward. The tires squeaked when the hid the dry, worn asphalt and propelled the car down the road, the roar of its rusty straight exhaust pipes, rolling over the canyons and hills.