So, little foals, you want me to tell you a story? Gather round, then, and listen well.

Sure, I could tell you about Somnambula, or Starswirl, or even Twilight and her friends, but the Princess of Friendship wasn't the only pony doing great things in Equestria. Hmmm... well, I guess I can't say it like that, because the story I have to tell doesn't take place in Equestria.

I'm going to tell you about the Badlands.

South of Equestria, beyond the Macintosh hills, lie a wild region. Once ruled by a dozen great kingdoms, the Storm King's armies swept over everything and reduced it to dust. Now, with the Storm King gone, what remained has fallen into chaos...

The normal kind of chaos, not the Discord kind.

Anyway, this story isn't for the faint of heart. It isn't about friendship or love and tolerance. The Badlands are a wild, dangerous place. This story is about four strangers, brought together by a being known as The Angel, whose motivations are her own. She could lead them to riches or ruin.

So are you little ones brave enough for a tale of adventure, danger, and treasure? Are you ready for the...

BADLANDS

"Last stooop: Badlands station! Badlands statiooon!" the train slowed to a stop at the small, un-populated station in the middle of nowhere. The only four passengers, saddlebags full of provisions, looked up from the nearly-matching books they held. A silent conversation between them resting on the pages.

Ghost: We're here, Twilight. Gotta go.

Bookhorse: Okay! Be careful out there. Capper should be waiting with an airship.

Hawkeye: Yes, Twilight, we know. You've told us a dozen times since we left Appleloosa.

They shared a look and smirk. As they went to put their books away, though, something caught their eyes.

Angel: Hello, adventurers.

G34R: Who are you?!

"Um, Bevel? I didn't think anypony else had one of these books," Pot Pie had already stood to get off the train, but sat back in his seat.

"They don't. I talked about these things all night with Twilight and Starlight. They only made six books."

Angel: Worry not, my friends. I am here to help you. I heard of your coming and wish to guide you to the purpose of your visit. For now, though, you should probably get off the train. There's a hedgehog waiting for you. He will take you to your friend. Be sure to do what he says. I will contact you later. Good luck.

The four shared another look.

"Hello?" the conductor poked his head into the car, "I need to get back to Canterlot! Get off the train!"

One by one they did. Sure enough, a short black hedgehog with white hair stood with a sign as big as he was reading "PONIES" in large letters. "and Griffon" was hastily scrawled underneath.

Grubber

I'm sorry

"Heeey!" the creature shouted and waved, "over here!" as they approached, he spoke excitedly to each, "well aren't you the motley crew? A lanky little griffon, prowling around with ponies, what's with that? Wow, aren't you a hyper pegasus; need some more sugar? And aren't you a pretty unicorn; you look a lot like me; must be a sign," he winked, and Whisper shuddered, "And you... hi, big pony; please don't hurt me."

Marduk scowled, "yeah, yeah. Who are you supposed to be, a snack?"

The thing crossed its arms and harrumphed, "I'm Grubber! Former minion of the Great and Evil Storm King," then he mumbled, "now stuck working for Capper."

"Well then, you fared better than the Storm King," Whisper said, earning her a hoof-claw bump from Marduk, giggles from Bevel, and a smirk from Pie.

Grubber simply turned and waddled down the steps, gesturing, "yeah, yeah. Follow me, ponies."

The train pulled away from the station as they did the same, leaving it barren and deserted. They now noticed a few other buildings were hidden behind it in the shadow of the eastern cliffs. It was a run-down, ad-hoc sort of town like they had never seen. Appleloosa was fairly primitive feeling, compared to Manehattan, or even Ponyville, but this was something else, entirely. A dozen small shacks were huddled, as if for warmth, in a tight ring. Sheets of metal and wooden planks framed them in a wall that looped in a wide crescent to the cliffs overlooking them. Shards of metal and wood stuck out, barely visible, from the sand throughout the whole enclosure. On the south side of the compound, nestled in the shadow of the natural stone wall, rested a very out-of-place airship.

"Welcome to Devon Rex," Grubber said with an exaggerated flourish, "or, what's left of it, anyway."

Whisper was nearly breathless as she asked, "what happened?"

"Lots of things happened. In short, though, first the Storm King happened. Then the Storm King stopped happening."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Bevel asked.

Grubber rolled his eyes, "it means, you stupid little pony, the Storm King conquered Abyssinia and everything else, and took everything they had, but he protected them. When your special little Princess killed him, great love and tolerance, by the way, it left no resources or soldiers to protect from monsters, pirates, or bandits."

"Maybe that's why we're here?" Pot said, "to set things right?"

"Yeah, right. Like the four of you could fix all of the Badland's problems. Are you going to friendship and magic all over everything?" a low rumble shook the ground, and a cloud of sand appeared to the south, "well that's just great. They must have seen the shiny airship just begging to be raided. Guess you get your first real taste of the Badlands, ponies. Hope it isn't out last."

Over the rumbling they now heard whoops and literal squeals coming from the dust cloud as it grew nearer. The glint of metal in sunlight gave the only indication of what caused it until the vehicles were already there. With ever more hollering, they, one-by-one, hit a half-buried roof at full speed and catapulted over the now-useless wall, into the town.

Marduk scratched the back of his head and let out a, "huh."

Pot Pie replied, "eeyup."

Bevel's eyes were shining, "ohmygoshwhatwerethosethings?"

A moment passed before Whisper finally spoke, "uh, shouldn't we go help?"

They exchanged looks and sprang into action. Marduk and Bevel took to the sky as the landlocked trio ran to the gate. Grubber scampered through a small hole in the sheet metal (only getting his fat ass stuck for a second) and after what seemed like minutes the gate ground open.

Meanwhile, the pair of winged adventurers circled and surveyed the situation. The dust had cleared, by now, revealing the seven pig bandits dismounting their vehicles. Of course, Bevel Gear was mostly focused on the latter. They were cobbled together pieces of equipment, no two completely alike, though the frames looked to be uniform. They each had two wheels and handlebars, much like a bicycle, but covered in metal and gears. There were also no pedals or apparent means of propulsion, save faint glows of varying colors from the bowels of the devices.

"Bevel!" the pegasus looked down to see all three of her land-based compatriots inside the gate, and Marduk flying down to meet them. Four of the pigs had turned their attention to the newcomers, while the other three were making their way to the airship. As she banked down, she saw Grubber running for a hiding place.

The two touched down on the opposite side of the bandits from Whisper and Pot Pie. As soon as they did, the pigs each picked a target and charged.

One swung a chain that looped Pot's muscular leg. Try as he might, though, the massive pony didn't budge. He stepped forward, twisted, and bucked the swine to the ground. With a shake of his muscular leg, the chain clattered down beside the unconscious bandit.

Another charged Whisper with a large wrench, but only got half-way before he found the tool twisted from his grasp. It swung around, suspended in a magical green glow, and clonked the poor piggy in the face. The glow vanished and the wrench dropped to the dirt.

Marduk's deft claws swiped a pipe from the third's hooves. The pig got one glimpse of the razor-sharp appendages and ran toward the airship. The griffon started to give chase, but Pot Pie put a hoof on his shoulder, "no rush," Marduk nodded and turned toward the last one standing.

A large metal nut clonked the fourth one on the head and Bevel crossed her front legs in a dignified, pleased gesture. A few more nuts were looped on the tips of her wings.

"That wasn't so hard," Pot remarked.

Marduk looked over his shoulder at the emerging hedgehog, "thanks so much for your help."

"You gonna stand here talking, or are you going to go save our ride out of here?"

They galloped down the road after the pig that fled. A couple turns and bends later, and the small, but still imposing, airship sat in front of them. A ping on the ground made them all freeze. The largest of the bandit pigs stood at the top of the airship ramp. He loaded another bolt into his crossbow and aimed it in their direction, shouting, "SOOEY!"

Karnac

Wee wee wee

The bolt flew through the air, scattering the adventurers. Grubber obviously hid, but the other four took cover, as well.

"Is that a powered bow?" Marduk sighed at the wistfulness in Bevel's voice.

"Well," he said, "why don't you go swipe it and find out?" he immediately regretted that comment, as she was already high in the air, diving toward Karnac, "can't take her anywhere," he took off after her and noticed two of the pigs approaching Pot Pie and Whisper, "incoming!" the cry took a double meaning as he dove toward them.

Whisper and Pot took notice and peeked over the box at the would-be attackers, just in time to see Marduk bash their heads together and shoot back into the sky.

"Impressive," Pot said. Whisper just nodded.

"Freeze!" all three looked to see Bevel struggling in Karnac's headlock, with the crossbow against her head, "any of you move another inch and she gets it."

A sharp crack sounded through the other-wise silent town. Nobody moved for a long moment. Then the pig turned, revealing a small bolt in the back of his head. From below the deck of the airship stepped a tall, handsome tabby in a long red trench-coat. The gold buttons shone in the sunlight. With a hard kick, he rolled the now-dead bandit down the ramp, where he flopped in a crumpled heap, "nice of you to finally join me!"

Capper

Charming's his game.

"D-d-did you just," Bevel looked at the small crossbow in Capper's paws as he loaded another bolt.

"Kill him? Yeah. That's how things work around here. Get used to it. You're not in Kiangsas anymore."

Grubber had reappeared and was waddling up the ramp, "I keep tellin' 'em that, but they won't listen."

"Well, all aboard I suppose. The sooner we get out of this dump, the better," the cat turned, accidentally smacking Grubber in the face with the tail of his coat as he did, and the two climbed to the poop-deck.

After a moment's hesitation, Pot and Whisper followed up the ramp, helping the still-shocked Bevel to her hooves. Marduk picked up Karnac's crossbow and flew directly up to Capper. A few minutes later, everyone was aboard and Pot Pie pulled up the ramp.

"Okay, griffon, fly up and unfurl the sails. I'll bring us about and..." Capper trailed off. He twisted the wheel back and forth, but nothing happened, the wheel spun freely, as if attached to nothing. A low rumble echoed from below, and a lone motorbike sailed over the wall and into the distance. Before it did, however, they got a good look at the net bag slung over its side, and the rudder linkage inside.

Marduk and Capper just stared for a long moment. Then, in perfect harmony, "shit."

"It shouldn't be a big deal," Capper was saying an hour later. They all sat around a small table in the tight cargo hold of the airship, "if we can track them down, the Whole Hog Gang are a bunch of push-overs. The trick is tracking them down."

"Can't we just find a new linkage?" Bevel had mostly calmed down, by now, and was examining the crossbow. Her book sat open beside it.

Capper shook his head, "doubtful, around here. Klugetown, Panthera, maybe. Devon Rex has been pretty thoroughly looted, though. I guess I can look around, but you five should track down the Whole Hogs."

"Nuh uh!" Grubber stood and crossed his arms, "I'm staying here with you. No way am I going after any gang!"

"Suits me fine," Marduk said, to the agreement of everypony present.

"Fine," Capper sighed and put a paw to his face, "just don't stay out after dark, and take weapons, this time. I'm sure you can find something serviceable in the scrap around town."

A soft ping came from Bevel's book and the saddlebags of the other three adventurers. The gathered around the one that was open.

Angel: I believe I can help you find what you are looking for.

"What's that?" Grubber's hand was slapped by a talon as he reached for the book, "ow. Geeze."

Bevel picked up her metal quill with a wing, "it's a magic book. Enchanted with saddlebag magic, a map, and communication with a few other books. This... Angel is somehow using them to talk to us," she put quill to paper and wrote a response.

G34R: Who says we're looking for something?

Angel: Everypony is looking for something. You, specifically, are looking for the Whole Hog Gang.

G34R: How do you know that?

Angel: How I know is not important. I have put a way-point on your maps. It will lead you to someone who can help.

Marduk was first to speak after a moment, "do we trust her?"

Whisper shrugged, "do we have a choice?"

"I say go for it," Pot Pie agreed.

"Carefully," Capper added, "I don't want to tell Twilight I lost you already."

"Oh!" Bevel started writing again, "that reminds me," she turned the page to another conversation and wrote:

G34R: We've met with Capper, Princess. The airship is broken, but we are going to find a part for it.

She sat a moment in thought, then wrote another line.

G34R: Have you been seeing the messages from Angel?

After there was no reply for a minute, she closed her book and handed the crossbow to Marduk.

"No, no," he pushed it back to her, "you take it. That's your style, not mine."

With a slow nod, Bevel Gear slung the weapon over her back, giving it a long, uneasy stare.

"Well?" Capper clapped his paws together, "what are you waiting for? It will be dark soon, and I want out of this rathole."

"Don't you like rats?" Marduk said as he climbed the ramp to the deck. Bevel followed, as did Whisper and Pie, who lowered the ramp back to the ground. One by one they filed back off the ship to the sands below, "so, where is this waypoint thing?"

Pot Pie opened his book at pointed at the map of the town at a small shack down the road. By now, the few villagers who still lived in town were peering out of their homes. The five remaining bandits had long since regained consciousness and they, along with their bikes, were gone. Bevel bee-lined for the remaining vehicle to examine it, while the other three went to what they quickly realized was a small shop. They knocked.

The door opened and a brown bird's head leaned out, "what do you want?"

Pot Pie replied, "we were told you could help us with weapons?"

"Weapons, you say?" the pony nodded and the door flew open, revealing the full form of a gruff but well-kempt griffon. He was about the same height as Marduk, but more than twice the weight (not all muscle). His crimson red fur and wings stood out against the dull tans and greys of the town, made all the more glorious by the mustard yellow waistcoat he wore, "well then, have I got a deal for you."

Tyr

Caveat Emptor

"You see, I'm what you might call an arms dealer. I buy and sell weapons. Buuut..." as he spoke, he paced back and forth in a short line between the building and his potential clients, "I'm usually a dealer in Klugetown. I was making a run out here with the Storm King's army, but got stuck when their airships just up and left without warning."

"So what do you want from us?" Marduk asked.

"Right to the point. I like that. I'd expect nothing less from a fellow griffon. I see you have an airship. I'd be happy to give you a few weapons in exchange for a ride back to my home."

"Our airship is broken," Pot Pie said, "we need the weapons to get back a part from the Whole Hog Gang."

Tyr laughed, "you think you can take on the Whole Hog Gang?" he laughed again, "oh wow. Never mind then. I'm not giving you anything if you're just going to walk into Hog territory and get yourselves killed."

"We're stronger than you think," Whisper replied, "we have magic and friendship on our side."

Another laugh, "friendship, eh?" the laughing stopped and he stroked his beak with a talon, "I'll give you the magic though. You have a good deal of enthusiasm, as well. Tell you what. I'll give you each a weapon, but you have to prove to me you can use it. There's some woods to the Northwest, right?"

Pot nodded, "Leota woods. Right."

Tyr nodded, "well, I heard some locals talking about a cabal of cockatrice giving problems."

"Cabal?" Whisper asked.

"It's what you all a group of them, now shut up. Now, I normally wouldn't care about these critters, but a client of mine wants some. Uses them to make petrification weapons. So bring me back a cockatrice corpse each, and you can keep the weapons. The client could probably help you find the Hogs, as well."

The three companions exchanged looks before Marduk shrugged, "okay, old man. You got a deal. What do you have for us?"

Tyr turned and disappeared into the house, emerging a moment later with three cloth bundles, "I don't have much with me, but these should suit you fine, for now."

They each took the one offered to them. Pot Pie unwrapped his to find a moderately sized hammer with a spike on one side of the head. The handle was shaped and padded to fit nicely in his mouth. Whisper's package was smaller, and held a miniature crossbow and a dozen bolts. Marduk's was the largest, as it was a full-sized bow and arrow. He held it in one claw and easily pulled back the string with his other. Half a dozen arrows rested in the quiver he slung under a wing.

"Here, give these to your other winged friend, too," Tyr motioned down the road toward Bevel and gave them another ten full-sized bolts for her crossbow, "now go show me what you've got," he turned and disappeared with a dismissive wave of a claw, into the house again.

"Well, that was convenient," Marduk said after a moment, "guess that Angel is on to something."

Pot nodded, "eeyup."

"Well I wouldn't say convenient," Whisper replied, "he wants us to... kill cockatrices."

The griffon scoffed, "they're just animals, Whisper. We just watched Cap kill a person without batting an eye. Like he said, we have to get used to it."

The unicorn squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. A hoof rested on her shoulder and she looked over to see Pot Pie giving her a reassuring smile.

Marduk sighed and put a claw to his face, "yeah yeah. I'm sorry, kid. Griffons are omnivores. We eat anything. Only reason we don't hunt cockatrice is chickens are far less dangerous, and more common in Griffonstone."

"It's fine. I know things are different out here. It'll just take some time."

He rested a claw on her shoulder and nodded, "I'll try to be patient, but I can't guarantee anything."

"Well I'm not going to be patient," they turned to see Grubber waddling up to them, "it's almost dark and you four haven't even left town! What're you doing just standing around?"

"No way we're leaving for the Whole Hogs, tonight," Pot said as he looked to the west. The sun was about an hour from setting, "we might be able to take care of those cockatrices, though."

"Cocka-what-now?" the hedgehog raised and eyebrow.

Marduk sighed, "head of a chicken, body of a lizard. Turns you to stone if you look it in the eyes. We need to kill a few as payment for these weapons."

"Uh huh... well, hurry up."

Whisper rolled her eyes, "I hate to admit it, but he is right. We should go find Bevel and get going before it gets too late. It's already going to be dark by the time we get to the forest."

They found the pegasus gearhead amongst a pile of disassembled motorbike. It took a few calls of her name to break her from her concentration. She looked up with a screwdriver in her mouth, "yush?"

"We need to get going. We got weapons but have to go get payment for them," Marduk said, poking through the parts.

Bevel slapped his claw away and spit out the tool, "I have these all perfectly organized! Don't touch!"

Pot Pie scratched his head, "so, what is it?"

"It's an autonomous personal transport that uses arcane capacitors to regulate and control the flow of magic from a crystal in order to harness it as momentum to propel the vehicle!"

They stared at the wide-eyed pegasus for a moment, then Whisper spoke, "in Ponish, please?"

Bevel sighed and face-hoofed, "it's a magical, single-passenger carriage powered by a crystal."

"Oh," the unicorn replied, "kind of like the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000," now they all stared at her, making her shrink back into her mane, "it, uh, was an automatic cider press that a couple salesponies brought through Ponyville a few years back. Powered by them zapping it with magic."

"Exactly!" Bevel was right back onto her excitement rampage, "except here in the Badlands, most people don't have magic of their own, so these are powered with magic crystals!" she let out a squeak, "isn't it genius? Expensive, yes, but absolutely brilliant!"

"Sure," Marduk replied, "but right now we need to go hunt some cockatrice."

"Huh? Why?"

Marduk was already walking toward the town's gate, so Pot Pie answered as he followed, "to pay for these," he bumped his shoulder and the hammer slung over it.

Whisper followed too, shrugging, "the journals might have updated with it. They seem pretty good about that."

Bevel looked after them a moment before taking the book from her saddlebags. Sure enough, "A Journey Ahead" was crossed out, and two new entries were present:

A Journey Delayed

Talk to Tyr's contact.

Locate the Whole Hog Gang.

Recover the stolen rudder linkage.

Written in Stone

Kill 4 cockatrice.

Bring 4 cockatrice to Tyr.

"Huh," she said to herself, "that's kind of creepy," then she remembered her messages to Twilight and turned back one page. Sure enough, the Princess had replied.

Bookhorse: I'm sorry to hear about your difficulties. I'm sure you will pull through. Tell Capper and Grubber I said hello. As for Angel, I'm not sure how or why Fluttershy's pet rabbit would be writing to you.

Bevel raised an eyebrow. Rabbit? She'd have to ask Whisper what she new about that, later. That at least answered her question: Twilight wasn't getting the strange messages; only the four of them were. That was a mystery for later. For now, she quickly scrawled:

G34R: Never mind. Capper and Grubber say hello.

"Hey! Bevel!" she looked up to see the others already at the gate, with Marduk waving and calling, "hurry up, it'll be dark soon!"

G34R: Sorry, princess, we have to go hunt some cockatrice to pay a griffon for weapons.

She hurriedly closed and put away the book, then slid a piece of sheet metal over her disassembled bike. In a flash, she was flying toward the gate to join her friends.

As the sky turned from blue to orange, the four left the town's wall, with Grubber closing the gate, behind them. The forest on the other side of the tracks was already growing dark. The shimmer of fireflies and twittermites blinked in and out through the trees. They could hear the crow of the cockatrice and the cry of some hapless animal caught in their gaze.

"Well," Whisper breathed, "here we go," her horn lit with a dim green glow. A similar glow emanated from the crossbow as she lifted it from her saddlebags.

Pot Pie looked nervous as he hefted his hammer in his mouth and managed an, "eeyup," around it.

Bevel balanced her crossbow across her shoulders with her wings and took a deep breath.

"Just follow my lead, my little ponies," Marduk deftly strung his bow and knocked an arrow, "I've hunted plenty in my lifetime. I'm happy to show you how it's done."

By the light of Whisper's magic, and Marduk leading the way, they ventured into the forest.