The Tinker and the Warrior

Tanky woke up disoriented, blinking up at a mechagnome she didn’t recognize.

“Where am I?”

“Mechagon. Your cousins brought you here after you were incapacitated during the last battle.” Tanky raised her hand - and stared at it in disbelief.

“What is this?!”

“Your original limbs were damaged beyond repair, we replaced them with better ones.” The mechagnome showed her a hologram of a deathly white gnome, arms and legs mangled beyond repair. Tanky gasped.

“Is that... me?”

“Indubitably. I regret that you were sent to us in such condition.”

“Thank you for your... help.”

“If you require further assistance, don’t hesitate to ask.” She gingerly got up and walked away, testing out her new, unfamiliar limbs. The gnome - er, mechagnone - made her way to the flight path, unsure of how she felt about her new limbs. Her cousins gathered around her when she reached the flight master.

“How d’you feel?”

“I.. dunno. Different for sure.”

“We can help you adjust!” Nuffin piped up.

“Uh.. thanks? Sowwy, not zactly in a sociable mood at the moment. I’m kinda depressed.”

“Aww. Maybe we can think of something to cheer you up? Or maybe we could sit with you in silent support.” Irean gave Tanky a sympathetic look. “I’m glad you’re still alive. To be honest, when we first saw you, we didn’t think you were.” Her eyes were slightly luminous with unshed tears.

“But the mechagnomes made it ok.” Tanky said grudgingly.

“I know this wasn’t the best outcome, that you would have rather kept your limbs, but they were kinda beyond repair. I.. would think you would rather be whole than have no limbs a’tall. You *are* a warrior after all… what’s a warrior without feet to charge and hands to hold your weapons in?” Laurell had her bow nocked in her hands, as close a demonstration as she could manage, being a hunter.

“Good point. I *am* thankful for the new limbs… seems easier to carry my swords around now.”

“See? What is there to be depressed about?”

“My name doesn’t exactly suit anymore does it? I mean.. TankyTYKE denoted gnome, but I’m not exactly a gnome anymore.”

“Hmm… something similar? Tankette.. YOU? After all, when Em’s not around, you fill the role quite well.” Lina pondered a moment. “I hope this isn’t a rude question, but how did you end up with the name Tankytyke?”

“‘M’parents didn’t know what to name me, until I started carrying around mock swords as a toddler and starting mock fights with shadows or anything else that wasn’t... normally part of the house. So, they started calling me a tank instead of girl or girlie as they had been to that point, and Tankytyke came about when they went visitin’ and realized that I was on the smallish side even for a gnome.”

“You’re still a gnome y’know. Remember, Erazmin said all mechagnomes are gnomes at heart.” Noumi rested a hand on ‘ette’s right metal shoulder.

“Pardon me?” The gnomish crowd turned around to see Prince Erazmin himself approaching. “I wanted to welcome our newest mechagnome into our ranks, and offer what support I can give.”

Irean stepped out from the crowd of her cousins. “Thank you, Prince Erazmin, for your offer. I think right now our cousin needs some time, but I’m sure that when she’s ready she will come looking.”

“Thank you, Miss.. Irean?” The gnome mage nodded. “I will be waiting when she’s ready. Until then, please give her my best.”

“I will. Thank you.” Irean extended her three-fingered hand to Erazmin’s. His mechanical grip was surprisingly gentle.

****

‘Ette trained every day to get used to her new arms, going on runs like she always had before the battle. Her endurance increased as the new arms allowed her to carry the weight more easily. The day came when she was called to battle again - a flash of fear, followed by a steel determination to do the best she could despite the fear. She would NOT shrink back from her duty. She met her cousins at the Boralus flight path, and they flew over to Mechagon in a group. They met the rest of the army at the entrance to Mechagon City, quickly breaking into groups: healers, tanks, ranged, and melee. Erazmin and Gelbin motored in on spider mounts, stopping to survey their troops.

“Gnomes and mechagnomes! The time has come to end my father’s reign of terror!” Erazmin’s words were meant with a roar of cheers. “I, Prince Erazmin, and Gelbin Mekkatorque will personally lead the charge. Good luck to us all! For Mechagon and Gnomeregan!” Erazmin and Gelbin charged into the city’s entrance, followed by the tanks and the melee groups as the healers and ranged stood back dealing damage and healing, to enemies and troops, respectively.

‘Ette charged in with the melee group, swords swinging like she always practiced. As the war raged around her, she could tell when the gnomes were tiring, and stepped in to bolster flagging warriors. All too soon, the battle was over, and she realized she had surpassed her previous endurance. Wow, these new arms and legs really are amazing.