Sprocket the Unicorn

NAME:  Sprocket
OCCUPATION:  Mechanic
AGE:  About 35

Sprocket's life hasn't been the easiest in the world.  He has endured many hardships that would never happen under normal circumstances.  For one thing, he is the cousin of Thief Lord Iron Tornado, only he never knew.  He was born in secrecy while Tornado was on his rampage and was hidden when Tornado found the refugee camp where his mother lived at the time.  Long story short, Tornado murdered her and Sprocket fled when the coast was clear.  His father was part of the resistance and often confronted Tornado's army and henchmen.  His father was a brave unicorn and Sprocket idolized him for it, and he was able to hold Tornado's army off for long enough to find a safe spot.

After that  day, Sprocket saw very little of his father, in fact there were often long stretches of about a month where he didn't see or hear from his father, and then one day he got a message saying that he was missing in action.  A week later, he got another letter confirming his father's death.  All this happened when he was only 8 years of age.

Heartbroken at his loss, Sprocket set his house on fire and set off to start a new life in the peaceful land of Equestria.  Upon entering the town, he ran into Gear Grinder working on a malfunctioning generator.  Now Sprocket had always had an interest in machines as he used to tinker with various devices when he was younger.  He soon took a liking to Gear Grinder and the two eventually bonded as father and son.  Gear Grinder taught Sprocket everything he knew about the trade and trained him in more advanced machines and he was happy.

However, years passed, and though the people in Ponyville were friendly towards Sprocket, he started to grow bored of it.  He rarely got a chance to show off his skills because everyone turned to Gear Grinder instead.  Gear Grinder did try to recommend they give Sprocket a shot because he might surprise them, but it fell on def ears.

Gear Grinder had no choice but to sever ties with Sprocket when his budget and pay was cut, and so Sprocket left, hoping to find a new place to settle where he could put his own skills to work, rather than being left in his superior's shadow.

THEME SONG:  Field of the Machine from Xenoblade Chronicles:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=p45gdP…