Road trip

One friday morning in Ponyville, a white pegasus mare with glasses and a black mane was knocking on another pony's door:"Quoty! Come out, we're gonna miss our appointment with the photographer! You know how impatient mom and dad can be!" Then she heard a voice from the house on the left:"Tease talk, Cyniquote left 20 minutes ago for work." It was Cyniquote's neighbour, Gear. He was a blue earth pony with a green mane and a red tail. Tease Talk asked:"Wait, what day is it again?"
"Friday. And if you're wondering why I'm not working, it's because I got no orders today. Heh, maybe I'm fixing appliances too well."
"Maybe you're sucking up to yourself too well."
"Heh heh, okay, I walked right into that one."

"So, Gear,what do you usually do when you don't work?"
"Well, right now I have a little project in my backyard. Been working on it for 2 weeks already."
Tease Talk flew in Gear's backyard and saw a stange machine. It had 4 wheels, a seat, a steering handle and a few other, less identifiable parts.
"What is this thing? And why is there a bag of coal next to it."
"Let me explain... 2 weeks ago, I found a busted engine on the streets, waiting for a garbage-pony. As a gadget enthusiaist, I wondered:"What if I can put this to good use?" So I decided to make my own vehicle starting with the engine."
"That sounds awesome! When can you finish it?"
"It'll be done soon. Maybe even today if you help me."
"Only if you take me on a ride!"
"Of course!"

And so the two ponies started to work:"Pass me the wrench... OK, now the hammer... now the safety mask and the welder..."
"Ugh, this is kinda boring. Do you have any juice in your fridge?"
"I'm having a good time! Then again, I could make cup holders in my vehicle. Good idea!"
"Ugh, does this mean the work will take longer."
"Yeah."
"I hate it when that happens."
"Sorry, I just can't utilize a not tech-savy pony in any other way."
"Hey, some things can surprise you with their usefulness, you know."

An hour later, the vehicle was finished. Gear said:"It looks great! Now to name it... how about "land train"?"
"It deserves a better name. I say we call it "the G-carriage"!"
"Even better!"
"So...how are you gonna put it in front of the house?"
"Darn it! Hmm... I think I got something."

Two hours later, the G-Carriage was floating while tied to a bunch of balloons. Tease Talk was pushing it over the house while Gear was saying:"Steady! Steady! You're doing great!"
"Gear, are you sure this is good idea?"
"We'll be fine if we drop it slowly! Now use the pin I gave you to pop the balloons one by one!"
"The ponies around us are staring."
"I have a miscolored tail, I'm used to that."

When the machine was on the ground, Gear revealed that beneath the seat was a place to store items:"Let me just get some snacks, and maybe some extra fuel."
"Ugh, okay...don't take too long."
Gear put in some sandwiches, 2 water bottles and a bag of coal. Then he said:"You know, I should probably take my tools too. Just in case there shows a few more things to finish."
"I can get them for you!", Tease Talk said, but it turned out the toolbox was kinda heavy.
"Ugh, how do you carry this every day?"
"It gets easier with time."

Gear and Tease Talk got into their seats. Gear reached out for one of the levers and said:"Now, the moment of truth." He pulled the lever a little and the G-Carriage statred to go. Tease Talk smiled, Gear looked at her and said:"So, was it worth it?"
"Heh, leave the snappy comments to me."
And so they drove around Ponyville for some time. Tease Talk said:"Why is looking around more fun when you're not walking or flying?"
"I don't know...maybe because you can focus better?"
Suddenly the saw an orange pegasus stallion with a black mane. Tease Talk said:"Hey, it's my brother! Let's say hi!"

They drove to Cyniquote and he said:"Oh, hi Tease Talk. Hi Gear. What'cha got there?"
Tease Talk said:"It's called the G-Carriage!"
"But it's not even a real carriage."
Gear said:"Well it sounds cool, I think."
Cyniquote said:"Well, I should go now. My lunch break doesn't last forever."
Gear started to drive away, saying:"Bye, Quoty!"
Cyniquote exclaimed:"Not you too! Why's that nickname so funny anyway? Oh, Pinkie Pie, why do you have to be so famous..."
"I don't have to be, I get to!", he heard a voice from behind.
"Woah, where did you come from!?"
"Well, I was at the Sugarcube corner, but then you asked me a question, so I came over here and answered you!"
"But how did you hear me from... never mind, I forgot who I was talking to."

Meanwhile Gear and Tease Talk were still driving around the town. Gear asked:"Hey, wanna drive out of Ponyville? I could drive faster there."
"Why not? It's only 2 o'clock!"
They drove out and got on the open field. Gear said:"You see the Everfree forest over there? I had to fight a timberwolf once there. For something that's like, 90% wood, it was pretty tough."
"Why were you going in there in the first place?"
"Had nothing else to do. Besides, I had brought stink bombs. The box said they can keep monsters away."
"Warning, not to be used with stupid desicions."
"Okay, I deserved that."

Gear looked to the side and asked:"Hey does that field look like it's covered in...", and he hit a tree. Tease Talk instictively flew up to avoid the blow, but Gear fell out into some flowers.
"Ow!... Note to self, build in a safety belt... These flowers look kinda weird."
"Are you OK?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I see the G-Carriage looks OK too."
"Hey, do these flowers look kinda like... little targets?"
"I don't know, let's just keep driving."

As they were driving, Tease Talk noticed that Gear smelled weird:"Ugh, no offense, but those flowers are not a good perfume."
"I know... I'll find a lake or something and clean up."
Suddenly, they heard noise from behind. It was a pack of timberwolves chasing them. Tease Talk yelled:"Put it in top speed, hurry!"
Gear pulled the lever to the edge, and the machine went a lot faster. That didn't discourage the timberwolves.
Gear complained:"Ugh, stupid flowers! Fly away, Tease Talk! I can handle these wolves."
"No, I can't just leave a pony alone with the wolves!"
"Okay, maybe you can pick me up and fly off."
"I won't be fast enough. This body isn't built for strength...serves me right for having napping as a hobby."
"It's OK, we'll think of something else."

Gear was fast enough, but he knew he couldn't just drive forever. Or drive to Ponyville and bring the disaster to it. Tease Talk asked:"Wait, was the welder in the toolbox?"
"Yes, but what good will that do? It can't make a big enough flame!"
"Let me drive, you take out one of the boards beneath us and ignite it!"
"You're a genius!... Wait a minute, you can't drive!"
"What do you think I was watching this whole time? Just do as I say!"
Tease Talk took the handle while Gear plucked out a board and took a welder to it:"Slow down, there's too much wind!"
"OK, here goes nothing!"

The G-Carriage slowed down, making the timberwolves approach closer:"Hurry up, Gear! They'll almost get us!"
"I can see the smoke and...got it!"
Gear jumped out with his giant torch, approaching the timberwolves and yelling:"Go away! We're not your snack! If you know what's good for you, you'll leave us alone!"
He managed to make the timberwolves run away.
Tease talk backed up the vehicle, saying:"Way to go! Now get in, I see a river close by."
After Gear washed himself, they both decided to go home. Gear let Tease Talk drive. Tease Talk drove to her house and got in. Gear drove to his and, since it was afternoon, he met Cyniquote, returning home from work.

"Oh, hi Cyniquuote, how was your day?"
"Oh, nothing much. Saw two movies, wrote the reviews, nothing special. Except... I think I might have Pinkie Pie-summoning powers..."
"Heh, yeah right! You never said what do you think about the G-Carriage."
"I like it, looks like fun, but... where are you goona keep it?"
"Darn it, brain! Why do you let me build vehicles, but not give me ideas about this sorta stuff?!"
"Umm...I'm sure you'll come up with something."
"Let me think... Tease Talk did say some things can surprise me with their usefulness."
He looked between his and his neighbour's house, and there was space to fit the vehicle, with the fence between.
"Hey, can I get a part of your yard that you don't use?"
"Umm... maybe..."