A Treasure Worth Dying For
I coughed slightly as I looked at my hand. I had just applied more lubricant to it, though unfortunately the only oil I could find was foul smelling and was borrowed from the life boats engine. I sighed as I closed the panel on my arm, screwed the screws back into place, and re-attached the screwdriver head to one of the many smaller arms that were smaller tools linked to my prosthetic hand.
It wasn't damaged aside from requiring more oil, my leg however was in bad shape. The hydraulic fluid had spewed out when Jim got me during our little game. It had been a day ago, but considering everything that's happened, I just haven't had enough time to seek repairs.
Maybe at the next space port I can find someone to make a bootleg patch.
"Heh, I guess Jimbo is quicker than I thought." I sighed after saying Jim's name.
I miss the lad. Yet, I also know he is in the good an-amorphous hands of little old Morphie. I do miss them both, but I know that if I go back to the Legacy, Captain Amelia will more than likely have me thrown in the brig.
"Well, there'll be no good of just sitting here." I got up and rested my hand on the life boat's directional stick and fired the engines. They came alive and propelled me into the cosmos.
Just a few days ago Jimbo and I had been on this boat chasing after a comet. The boy definitely had a craving for speed. Heh, then again so did I when I was his age. That seemed like a millennia ago, and then, I was whole. Now. Now I am a Cyborg. I miss being whole. But, you give up a few things... chasing a dream. I stared at my arm as it rested on the directional stick. This arm came in handy, but I would never be able to feel with it. I couldn't feel the warm breeze of a solar flare, or the cold trail of a comet. Same with my leg. My eye usually remains half closed. Let in too much light, you'll be as blind as a fish in a cave.
I sighed again as the boat propelled me onward.
After a while I began to doze off and eventually fell asleep altogether.
I dreamt I was standing on the Legacy with Jimbo and Morph at my side. It was a sight to see! Jim was smiling something fierce, and we were standing in piles of the treasure of that planet that had been blown to smithereens.
I expected to see the light coming off of Jim. But what I saw was something else. This was darkness that would make that old pirate Captain Flint cringe. Something seemed off, and then it was obvious. Jim, Morph, and I were the only ones here. That overdramatic Doctor, and the blasted Captain Amelia weren't here. Neither were the rest of my crew.
It became clear that we had left them to meet their destiny as we took off.
This wasn't Jimbo...this was...
I awoke as I felt the ship rocking slightly.
"Now, what of all the stars is that?" I arose half expecting to see a ship hauling me aboard, but instead what I saw was a planet.
Apparently I had drifted off to sleep and found myself in the gravity field of this planet. I pulled with all my might on the directional stick trying to regain control, but the life boat wouldn't have it. I took hold of the engine and tried to push it in the direction required for the ship to move away from the planet. Still with no luck it became obvious that she was going in. I sat low in the boat, switched my hand to that of a vice grip, and held tight. There was no fighting, might as well see where she takes me.
The wind had picked up and tore the ships sail off taking the engine along with it. I was rapidly approaching the planets surface. the ship was beginning to turn slightly. I thought I could make out a few small buildings, but the sight was cut short as the boat began to spiral causing me to duck down and clamp even harder onto the side of the boat. The boat was spinning faster than my head on my first night out drinking! Everything became a blur as the planet became ever closer.
Moments later the boat impacted the ground, slid across the ground digging a trench, took out a few shrubs, then fell upside down. I released my grip on the side of the boat and fell face first into the grass. I pushed myself up and switched back to my prosthetic hand, the clamp disappearing within my arm along with the other tools.
I tried lifting the boat but she was too heavy. I dug a small dip under the side of the boat and pulled my way through. Sinking my fingers into the dirt I felt my body squeeze out from under the boat. I stood up limping slightly and looked around to take in my surroundings.
Well well well. It seems I might have attracted a crowd.
All around me there were small little creatures. They looked like ponies. I coughed and took a few steps, causing the crowd to back up in fear.
"Oh, if I'da known I'd be attracting such a group, I'da tucked in my shirt first!" I laughed, causing a few ponies to gasp.
I felt my leg collapse from under me due to the lack of hydraulic fluid that still had yet to be replaced.
"Ah! Blasted thing!"
"A-Are you alright?" I glanced up to see a purple unicorn standing in front of me with a half worried half curious look on her face.
"Oh, heh. Right as rain I am, seein as how that boat didn't end me back there!"
The unicorn stood there with a little less worry and a little more curiosity. She seemed to be going over me with here eyes. She looked from my eye, lingered a while on my more... noticeable cyborg parts.
"What happened to your...legs?"
"Oh, just a little price to pay for a tough life. You get used to it after a while. Then again," I smiled. "I kinda like it."
Just to see their reaction, I formed a cane with my hand and stood myself up. The ponies gasped in response. Although the purple one more out of interest than surprise. I turned my head to look back to where the boat had hit, skidded across the ground and then halted. The trail was longer than I figured.
"Heh, I can fix that. Just give me a shovel and I'll have that ground patched up in no time. But about that boat."
After looking at the boat I saw it enveloped in purple light that would make a cosmic storm turn green with envy. After that it was my turn to look bewildered as the boat lifted off the ground flipped right side up and leaned on its side.
"By the stars! Would you look at that!"
The purple one looked at me and giggled, smiling shyly.
I smiled at her and was about to thank her when a sharp pain shot up my spine, making me double over and stumble slightly.
The purple unicorn rushed to my side with a worried look.
"Oh my, are you alright?"
I cringed as I put my hand on my back, rubbing it slightly. "Oh, I'm fine. Just give me a few nights, then I'll have that dirt filled in."
"I'm not worried about the dirt, I'm worried about you. Come with me. I know someone who could take a look at your back."
Normally I would completely object to help of any sort, the main thing that changed my mind was that my back was killin' me. So a few well placed steps and slight leaning against the unicorn I found myself entering a tree. Wasn't the strangest thing I'd seen, still a marvel being inside a living home. That... also surprisingly doubled as a library of sorts. Interesting, I hadn't done much readin' but it was still a large collection. She led me over to a couch where she motioned for me to sit.
That couch was a relief, It'd been a busy few days.
Looking around I noticed the unicorn was going up a few stairs and into a room.
"Spike! Wake up! I told you to have this mess cleaned up by the time I was back from the market."
I heard some grumbling followed by what sounded like the voice of a young lad.
"Sorry Twilight, I guess I overslept. I'll get started picking up these books."
"There's no time Spike. I need you to run over to Fluttershy's cottage and bring her back here."
"But-"
"Spike, go. Now!"
"Okay, Okay. Sheesh."
I heard multiple steps on the stairs and turned to see what looked like a baby dragon. He apparantly saw me and turned to stare at me, his jaw dropping in surprise.
"Twilight what is-"
The unicorn pushed him out of the door.
"Hurry up Spike! We need Fluttershy here quick!"
She then shut the door and made her way over to me with a worried expression.
"Do you need anything? Some water?"
I shook my head smiling thankfully. "Oh, no. I'm fine Miss... Miss?"
"Twilight. Twilight Sparkle."
"Well, nice to meet ya Miss Sparkle. But, no thank you, I'm fine. You don't need to be so worried, I'm sure my back is alright." I didn't agree with what I said mainly because I didn't want to be found by some Intergalactic Starship looking to crate me off to prison.
"It's no trouble at all. You just crash landed in the middle of Ponyville, I can't allow you to be left alone out there in case you might be injured."
"That's mighty kind a' ya. I don't mean to be a bother."
"Don't worry, you're not. Just relax, Spike should be back soon with Fluttershy."
Twilight? Spike, Fluttershy? Interesting names these tiny things have. Of course, then again, there is the name Morph. I suppose some rest might do me some good, especially since I've been awake for a while.
I drifted off on the couch for the second time today.
Hopefully this time I won't wake up to another surprise.
